Maine — The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

New York State Working to Ban Polystyrene Foam Food Containers

New York State could soon join Maine and become the second U.S. state to ban polystyrene food containers.

Environment, Leadership, Regulation, PolicyJames EdeMarch 2, 2020Styrofoam, Polystyrene Foam Food Containers, New York State, Maine, Governor Andrew Cuomo, packaging peanuts, single-use plastic bags, climate change plan, greenhouse gas emissionsComment

Flame Retardants Are Not All Created Equal

Here we discuss what exactly flame retardant chemicals are, why they are used in some classes of consumer products, and why blanket bans on such a diverse group of chemicals, such as the recent ban passed in Maine, is a bad idea when trying to protect consumers.

Environment, Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017Vireo Advisors, James Ede, Flame Retardants Ban, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maine, fire protection, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), organohalogens, human health effects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potential neurotoxic effects in humansComment

Maine Bans All Flame Retardants in Upholstered Furniture; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Calls for Removal of Organohalogenated Flame Retardants in Consumer Products

Maine has banned all flame retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture despite Governor Paul LePage’s veto.