Greengrip

Short summary on a last few months work

Words/phrases as “completely safe”, “non-toxic”, “home safe”, “non-hazardous” etc...are more and more in use in climbing holds manufacturing industry. The only problem is the fact that a lot of resin suppliers (polyester, polyurethane, epoxy and similar) have not proper information about their products. Already mentioned phrases are too much in use, even in descriptions of products containing toluene, MDI  or similar toxic substances. Further, climbing companies which are using such a “non-toxic resins” are happy to have “non-toxic” or “home safe” product, and are without real information on the mixture used for climbing holds manufacturing.

A few years ago, when we have started project about “climbing holds from non-toxic materials”, these phrases were seldom used. Phrases are now more in use, but quality of chemicals used for climbing holds are not so much improved, neither final products are significantly less toxic (in case there are exceptions, we would be happy to know). Only this year we have had several cases with “home safe” product containing carcinogenic and toxic ingredients. Only once we get an explanation (bad one) after we contacted company asking for more information on chemical labeled as “non-toxic”. Suppliers are quite, and provide a minimum of a real information about product; buyers are not asking too much and are happy to have something “new”. There is still long way to go to obtain “non-toxic” climbing hold. Even longer way is to obtain the hold from “non-toxic” raw materials – for this one, and from all our experience in chemistry, chemical industry, developing new materials, material safety data sheet creation, handling/shipping/classifying of dangerous goods, working with numbers of different substances – we dare to say, that, no one in this world have a such kind of climbing hold. One day there will be. No doubt.

In order to prevent use of toxic substances labeled as “non-toxic”, we have offer all our knowledge, expertise, experience, and time - free of charge, of course, since we are not making business from this -  to everyone (company or individuals) interested in topic.

25th of August 2008 

Blog is a short summary of our lab activities, and in Photo Galery are the most interesting latest holds (see Slideshow) - for better look on details see Full Size.

11th of August 2008 

Most resin suppliers (polyurethane, epoxy) have not proper information about their products. Words as "non-toxic", "safe", "home safe", "non-hazardous"...are too much in use, even in cases where product is hazardous, and even carcinogenic.

Seems, a lot of suppliers do not know the meaning of term  "hazardous chemical", or just - do not want to know, since non-hazardous chemical is much easier to transport, store, and definitely - to sell.

If you are dealing with resins for climbing holds do not be lazy to read MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). If you are not familiar with all these CAS numbers, TLV values, R and S phrases, etc - feel free to ask. It's your health.  We would be happy to help and provide you the more realistic information on mixture you have.

Web store is coming slowly, but surely.

If there is an interest to test our latest lightweight materials/climbing holds, on the principle "huge reduction for feedback" - contact us for more information.