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Guest Intro/Interview

Mary Burrows

Our guest today is Mary Burrows. Mary is the Manager of Chemical Development at Thetford Corporation, the world’s leading maker of portable and permanent RV toilets, and the holding tank deodorants and related additive products used in and on RVs. Mary received her Bachelor’s degree from Albion College in 1980, with majors in Chemistry and English. She has worked at Thetford for over twenty years, and spends much of her time researching and developing RV deodorant and cleaning products. She is a recognized expert in the area of treating holding tank waste and the deodorants used in RVs, and is called upon repeatedly for her knowledge and experience in this field.

www.Thetford.com

EPA: Design for the Environment

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/

Design for the Environment

In a study conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, and summarized in Packaging Digest in Feb 2009:

“Four out of five people say they are still buying green products and services today – which sometimes cost more – even in the midst of a U.S. recession.”

“Half of the 1,000 people surveyed say they are buying just as many green products now as before the economic downturn, while 19% say they are buying more green products.

Fourteen percent say they are buying fewer environmentally green products.”

“About one in three say they don’t know how to tell if green claims are true. One in 10 consumers blindly trust green product claims.”

“Consumers are verifying green claims by reading the packaging (24%) and turning to research (going online, reading studies, 17%).”

In an article from Brandweek in Feb 2009, quoting from a study by Mintel:

“A $17.7 million business in 2003, the Chicago-based market research company says the green cleaning category quadrupled sales to $64.5 million by 2008. by 2013, Mintel anticipates eco-friendly cleaners will do an astounding $623 million in business and account for 30 percent of the household cleaners market by then (compared with 3 percent last year)”.

“Green Works brought green cleaning products into mainstream supermarkets, which have seen green sales increase more than 170% from 2007-08 and market share rise 16 percentage points.”

As you can see green is growing rapidly. Many manufacturers want to claim their products are green. The only way to know for certain if a product is green is to look for products that are certified or recognized green by a third party.

Green Washing

7 Sins of Green Washing

Mary Burrows Final Thoughts

Buried Logic Closing by Host Brian Brawdy

To learn more about Mary Burrows and the Thetford Corporation, please visit www.Thetford.com

Contact us at Buried Logic:

Brian Brawdy: BuriedLogic.com

Michael Mauro: MauroMedia.com

Additionally, I was fascinated by their “Lean Manufacturing” mission and their daily goal of creating a safe, comfortable and highly proficient work environment. Fully automated and enhanced assembly stations that aid in productivity at the same time protecting their teammates, are visible throughout both plants. At lunch, Jack took me through the “chicken or the egg” type process where some products are designed from the outset with lean manufacturing in mind while others have the lean manufacturing aspects conform to them. Yin and Yang, goal and result, one becomes the other. (I think I’m on to a Buddhist Koan). To see Jack’s expression and smile as he explains the process, you know he gets it.

It’s no wonder that Thetford and Norcold have the reputation that they do. It was truly and honor to hang with “The Crew.” Though they exemplify “leanness” at every turn, there is NOTHING sparse about their passion or their pride.

Explorer & Green RVer Brian Brawdy to Participate in the 2009 Outdoor Writers Association of American 82nd Annual Conference

Recently seen in The New York Times, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, Trailer Life and RV Business, Brian Brawdy to speak and bring his ‘Green RV’ to the Outdoor Writers Association of America 82nd Annual Conference.

WHAT: On behalf of Theford Corporation, Brian Brawdy will participate in panel discussions with Theford Chemist Mary Burrows, along with Brian’s Lance Camper ‘Green RV’ to be featured as part of the 2009 Outdoor Writers Association of America 82nd Annual Conference.

WHO: Brian Brawdy is known as a ‘Survival Expert,’ ‘Outdoor Adventure Expert,’ and an ‘Environmental Pioneer,’ and is certified in Wilderness First Aid. He has been featured on CNN, Fox News, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, Miami Herald, The Vancouver Sun, The Denver Post and on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, The CW and GlobalTV affiliates across North America. He is a featured blogger for RV.net and is the ‘Green’ contributor on the RVIA website. Brian inspires and educates people about wilderness exploration, survival through self-reliance, outdoor adventure and gear while traveling in an RV that harnesses the natural resources from the sun, wind and rain.

WHERE: 2009 Outdoor Writers Association of America 82nd Annual Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan

WHEN: Saturday, June 13 – Monday, June 15, 2009