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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

Join Brian as he reviews the Smart Drain, the new sewer system by Thetford, that offers RVers a superior dumping system loaded with benefits and features…

For additional information about the Smart Drain, please visit Thetford.com

I want to thank Nadine from Thetford and Royal Lamb from Motosat who, as always, came by to ensure my Rig’s satellite connectivity is functioning top notch!

I’m now headed to Salt Lake City for Outdoor Retailer and am looking forward to hanging with one of my favorite reporters, Keith McCord from KSL!

5 media appearances, 3 personal appearances, 5,000 miles, 15 days

Green RVer Brian Brawdy hit the road again for the first of 2 Summer Media Tours. Starting with an appearance on WGN in Chicago, he stopped in Denver for an appearance on Fox & at Ketelson Campers.

He then traveled to explore National Parks in Utah & Arizona and appeared on ABC & Good Morning Arizona in Phoenix where Brian spoke about the 7 Sins of Summer Safety and the RV lifestyle. He spent the day at Tom’s Camperland, the local Lance dealership, then headed into Joshua Tree National Park. From his interstate equilibrium to honks from fellow RVers that his pesky backdoor swung open, the trip is proving to be quite the adventure!

Spending a few days at Lance Camper headquarters in Lancaster, California, Brian had general maintenance performed on the Green RV and is now headed back across the country to meet up with his friends from Thetford at the Family Motor Coach Association’s Rally (FMCA) in Bowling Green, Ohio.

You can follow Brian’s adventures as he continues to spread the messages of Conservation thru Exploration, Green RVing, Emergency Preparedness and Survival in a variety of ways -

1. Sign up for an RSS Feed to his Blog

2. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@BrianBrawdy) as he sends daily updates from the Road.

3. Log on to his SPOT Adventures Page where he shares his entire route and photos!

For breaking news and commentary on how to survive and thrive in the 21st century, you can also log onto BrianBrawdy.com

Stay tuned as Brian arrives at the FMCA Rally this weekend for a Monday start! He will be sending updates & blogging about his experience in the days ahead!

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

First, a very special thanks to Jack Cole and Norm Jacobson from Lance Camper. Not only did they invite me into their home but our technical discussions will lead to the snow melting procedures I will use this winter when the temperatures up north make harvesting rainwater a bit of a challenge.

I want to also mention Bob Livingston from Affinity Group. He always challenges me to push the envelope and think of cutting edge ways of doing things with the Mobile Base Camp. His passion is as contagious as it is inspiring.

I can’t thank Steven and Don from Xantrex enough for their time and expertise in helping educate me and creating an amazing design for the Green RV’s energy management system (the brains of the operation) in utilizing the energy generated by the Kyocera PV’s and the Air Breeze wind turbine. I am blown away by their knowledge as well as the Xantrex products that will keep me off the beaten path and off the grid.

With Alaska now just two short weeks away, the conversation I had with Kip from Atwood Mobile Products about their revolutionary Excalibur XT two stage heater will not only help with the comfort level inside the rig but with energy conservation as well. This amazing heating system is fine-tuned to only use the power it truly needs to get the job done; not a drop more.

Terry from Fantastic Vent brought me up to speed on both the thermal domes I will need in this winter exploration season and the best way to employ my three Fantastic Vent Units already on board.

On the safety side of the vehicle, Wayne from RoadMaster Inc designed the perfect system of steering and stabilization. I cannot think of a better way to complement the SuperSprings and Rickson Truck Wheels.

When it comes to “Bringing the far away to your own front door”, Transfer Flow has made it possible for me this year. Ben continues to teach me how to be as efficient as possible in doing so. In the hunt for biodiesel, my fuel tank is one of my most important tools.

I am also very excited about my time with Nadine and Mary from Thetford. Their new EPA Certified & award winning products are worthy of all of our attention and applause.

Dave from Hamsar Diversico knows his stuff. HIs streamlined plan for rig-wide LED lighting is going to make a huge difference in the Green RV. Just wait and see.

Royal from MotoSAT is helping me keep abreast of the latest breaking wherever I am. He stayed late two evenings to help hook me up with HDTV.

I also want to thank the entire team at Go RVing and RVIA for making me feel right at home in a Show and an industry that I am brand new.