Let Your Dandelions Grow!

In light of the spring season, I’d like to point out one little detail that has been brightening your environment and is also a symbol of a healthier planet. Where dandelions grow, you can be pretty confident that no pesticides have been used to battle them away. This struck me as I was biking down Lake Shore Drive (Chicago) the other day and noticed dandilions everywhere- and I really mean eveywhere.

After digging up a little research I realized that this is due to a Chicago initiative through the Department of Environment and the Safer Pest Control Project to use less pesticides and chemicals in the public park lanscaping as an effort to minimize impacts on the environment. The fertile dandilion growth is also a sure sign that the landscaping crews are not mowing the grounds every few days. This alone stands as a great bit of advice for you homeowners with a lawn- let the dandelions grow!

One last comment worth mentioning dandelion greens are good for your liver! Dry them and steep them in tea, or throw fresh leaves in your stirfry for dinner and you will be on your way to detoxified body!

BASF Adds a “Story” Section to Their Website

In the spirit of open communications with the public about their green projects, BASF has launched a section on their site devoted to promoting their green initiatives that have successfully had positive impacts on the environment. One material they’ve released recently is called Ecoflex, a plastic they say is completely biodegradable and compostable. Targeted as a replacement material in the production of trash bags and disposable packaging, it’s designed to decompose (in compost) within a few weeks. In soil, BASF claims it will leave no residues. Ecoflex is engineered to work just like Low Density Polyethylene, allowing it to be made into films, bags or coatings. This bio-based plastic does not require drying and remains stable for one year on the shelf or being warehoused.

BASF is also working on initiatives such as PremAir, a catalyst product for the commercial market that destroys harmful, ground-level ozone (different from the ozone that we’re used to hearing about). A main component of smog (smoke and fog), ground-level ozone causes eye and nose irritation while weakening the immune system, increasing chances of illness. It’s been found by some studies that hospital visits and fatalities caused by respiratory complications are increased when ground-level ozone amounts are higher than average. When BASF’s PremAir coating is applied to heat-exchange surfaces, such as traditional car radiators for example, the catalyst coating manages to reduce ground-level ozone in the air, converting the ozone molecules into oxygen molecules instantly upon surface contact.

Click here to visit BASF stories.