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Exploratory writing
provide info on atopic
how to do something
explaining how something works

Argumentative essay
how to set up the essay intro thesis body paragraph and conclusion
make sure you have great grammar spelling and punctuation

Narrative writing
point of view perspective from which
dialogue the word that the character speaks
setting where and when the narrative takes place
characters protagonist antagonist
plot

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The term 'stainless steel' can be used to refer to a range of different iron-based alloys: any such alloy containing a minimum of 10.5% chromium can be considered a stainless steel. Varying this amount, as well as adding other materials including molybdenum, nickel, carbon and manganese, results in different types of stainless steel to suit different applications.

Stainless steel is generally divided into four distinct groups:

1. Austenitic. The austenitic group comprises the most common types of stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steels, in comparison with other types, contain elevated levels of chromium, molybdenum and nickel. They are particularly versatile and are renowned for displaying excellent strength and malleability.

2. Ferritic. Containing anywhere between 10.5% and 30% chromium, ferritic stainless steels usually have low carbon consistencies of not more than 0.1%. Ferritic stainless steels are magnetic and are primarily chosen for their resistance to temperature oxidation and stress corrosion cracking.

3. Duplex. Duplex stainless steel combines the austenitic with the ferritic, resulting in a metal that is stronger than both: this higher strength can lead to considerable weight reductions. Its excellent resistance to corrosion, even in demanding environments, make it perfect for use in marine applications.

4. Martensitic. Structurally similar to ferritic stainless steel but with an elevated carbon content (up to 1.2%), martensitic stainless steel can be hardened to a large degree. They are especially useful for creating medical tools and surgical instruments.

At BS Stainless, we employ a cherry-picked team of technical experts who are able to give clear, authoritative advice on choosing the most suitable type of stainless steel for any given application. Contact the team today and, to receive more articles like this, please subscribe to the BS Stainless newsletter. We also invite you to follow us on social media ( facebook, twitter and linkedin).

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4 Types of Stainless Steel | BS Stainless Limited

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The term 'stainless steel' can be used to refer to a range of different iron-based alloys: any such alloy containing a minimum of 10.5% chromium can be considered a stainless steel. Varying this amount, as well as adding other materials including molybdenum, nickel, carbon and manganese, results in different types of stainless steel to suit different applications.

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Dear Pablo: Which type of silverware is better for the environment: stainless steel or plastic? My office uses disposable everything and I am trying to make a change.

Variations of this question have been asked and answered in this column before. Of course the answer does not just lie in the manufacturing of the materials for disposable and durable goods such as plastic and metal cutlery. This is also a question of how they will be used and cleaned. Years ago I was asked if it's better to wash dishes by hand or use the dishwasher. I collected some empirical data on my clunky old dishwasher to find that washing by hand is better. Meanwhile, a German study using the new energy-efficient dishwashers showed that they can use half the energy, one sixth the water, AND less soap. The question of disposable dishes, cups and cutlery has been a recurring theme as well. In my very first Ask Pablo article ever I did a life cycle analysis of sorts comparing paper cups, ceramic mugs, and metal coffee mugs. Later I revisited the matter in more detail. The key to the question of durable vs. disposable lies both in the production of the product and in its use. The eco-efficiency of reusable cutlery depends on the cutlery being used many times over many years to take the place of hundreds of plastic forks, knives or spoons. Where the disposable cutlery beats the reusable is in the fact that it does not need to be washed. Over long-term use however, the reusable cutlery's manufacture becomes so insignificant that we can say that it is negligible. The comparison therefor turns into the energy and water required to wash the reusable cutlery vs. the energy and water used to produce, transport and dispose of a plastic cutlery.

Consider the Impact of Washing Metal Cutlery

The impact of washing cutlery has many dimensions. If washed by hand it will require less energy and water than using an old dishwasher, but more than a brand new state-of-the-art model. The efficiency with which you load the machine becomes important because every cubic centimeter counts but you don't want it packed so full that flatware and dishes come out still dirty. The California Energy Commission has the following tips on their website:

Avoid using the "rinse hold" setting on your dishwasher. "Rinse hold" uses three to seven gallons of hot water for each use, and heating water takes extra energy. Never use "rinse hold" for just a few dirty dishes.

Try to wash only full loads-the savings will surprise you.

Use short cycles for everything but the dirtiest dishes. Short cycles use less energy and work just as well.

If your dishwasher has an air-dry setting, choose it instead of the heat-dry setting. You will cut your dishwasher's energy use from 15 percent to 50 percent. If there's no air-dry setting, turn the dishwasher off after its final rinse and open the door. The dishes will dry without using any extra electricity.

If you rinse dishes before loading them, use cold water. Don't waste water by letting it run continuously, either.

Install your dishwasher away from your refrigerator. The dishwasher's heat and moisture make the refrigerator work harder. If you have to put them next to each other, place a sheet of foam insulation between them.

Consider the Impact of Manufacturing and Disposing of Plastic Cutlery

Disposable cutlery has even more complexity. They can be made from plastic or agricultural plastics. These utensils must be manufactured, packaged and transported over great distances to their final destination. After this long journey from its source the cutlery is used for about ten minutes before being unceremoniously dumped into a trash can without much care. Food contamination makes it unlikely to be recycled or even recyclable. From here the used cutlery is most likely transported by garbage truck to its final resting place in a big hole in the ground, the landfill. Here it will sit for thousands of years of years, never decaying (or in the case of bio-plastic, decaying only slowly, if conditions are right, and turning into the potent greenhouse gas methane).

The Bottom Line on Cutlery

A lengthy quantitative exercise would end up being approximately correct at best, but probably closer to precisely wrong. The problem is that an analysis using my dishwasher and one particular set of utensils would result in an answer that is completely different from your dishwasher and your disposable cutlery. In most cases the reusable cutlery and the dishwasher will win over disposables. Disposables may still have their place; at the company picnic, or any other event that is far removed from modern plumbing. Ultimately trust that little green voice inside your head that tells you that disposable cutlery are the wrong choice for the office meeting. If other people don't share your values and are too lazy to load their flatware and plate into the dishwasher, perhaps the committed few can organize and volunteer for dish patrol. Eventually your corporate culture can evolve and everyone will be on board with the new status quo.

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Dear Pablo: Which type of silverware is better for the environment: stainless steel or plastic? My office uses disposable everything and I am trying to make a change. Variations of this question have been asked and answered in this column before.

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10 Mind-blowing facts that prove how harmful plastic is to our planet

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We have a plastic problem. You’ve probably heard that plastic is bad for the environment, but how bad is it really? We’ve compiled a list of 10 facts that prove the negative effects of plastic. Interested in how to reduce your plastic consumption? Check out our past blog posts for actionable ways to…

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How knowledgeable do you consider yourself when it comes to environmental change? Are you closer to the newbie and keen to learn supporter or are you so clued up you could give David Attenborough a run for his money?

If you're like most people, you'll be somewhere in the middle, which is why here at Non Plastic Beach our latest blog focuses on how plastic harms the environment.

We'll start by looking at the negative impact of plastic bags, a topic which has started to gain attention over the last few years but still needs further clarity.

Why are plastic bags bad for the environment?

For a long time, plastic bags were used as as a free and painless solution for carrying your weekly supermarket shop and for a range of other purposes.

It's only recently that the damaging effects have been realised and so a 5p fee has been introduced since 2015 to discourage people from buying bags.

So why are plastic bags bad for the environment? Plastic bags are made from crude oil like other plastics. This is a problem because crude oil emits significant amounts of pollution and it means the product is not biodegradable.

According to the Natural Environment website it takes at least 400 years for a bag to biodegrade which has the following effects:

Natural Environment estimates that approximately 100,000 sea turtles and other marine animals die every year because they get strangled in bags or mistake them for food.

In Australia, 50 million garbage bags end up as litter yearly, and the "plastic soup" patch in the Pacific Ocean (twice the size of the continental United States) is roughly 80% of the ocean.

A lot of people think that paper bags are a good alternative, but unfortunately, this isn't true as they still negatively affect the environment.

The best alternative to plastic bags are reusable bags, which save 11 barrels of oil. At Non Plastic Beach, we feel we do our bit to discourage plastic bag usage, by offering our customers organic cotton , reusable shopping bags .

Plastic water bottles and the environment

Like with plastic bags, plastic water bottles were until recently considered an essential part of everyday life, whilst being thrown away at will. This leads to some of the following effects:

Overflow at landfills, requiring high amounts of fossil fuel for production

Covering the ocean surface leading to the destruction of habits and wildlife

Importing waters from overseas requires trucks for transportation and delivery, which has a large environmental impact.

Despite the fact that tap water is declared safe for consumption by the EPA, 1500 plastic water bottles are being used every second in the United States alone.

What needs to be done? There need to be more drinking facilities with extra convenience so that people are encouraged to reuse plastic bottles rather than throw them away.

The UK has some of the best quality tap water in the world and extra water fountains/refill points will help to encourage people to turn to reusable water bottles.

At Non Plastic Beach, we produce a range of plastic bottles for multiple purposes, including Chilly's insulated water bottle and our new range of insulated water bottles made from stainless steel, which keeps liquids hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours.

The effect of plastic pollution on the environment

By now you should know some of the effects that plastics have on the environment, but let's look specifically at plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution causes harm to humans, animals and plants through toxic pollutants. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic to break down so the environmental damage is long-lasting .

It affects all organisms in the food chain from tiny species like plankton through to whales. Toxins work their way up the food chain when plastic is ingested and can even be present in the fish people eat.

How plastic packaging can be reduced

Over the last 10 years, most people will have noticed the unnecessary overuse of plastic in packaging.

This is a big environmental problem, with only 14% of plastic packaging used globally making its way to recycling plants, and only 9% actually being recycled. A third is then left in fragile ecosystems, and 40% ends up in landfills.

We have already discussed the positive effects of reusing plastics, but there are some further actions that can be taken to reduce plastic packaging:

Cook from raw materials to reduce food waste and packaging

Cut back on unnecessary packaging by trying out scoop shops, or by buying from greengrocers and delis

Buy loose leaf tea, rather than tea bags

Prepare your own lunch for work or eat last night's leftovers.

More tips on reducing plastic packaging can be found on the BBC Good Food website.﻿

The effects of plastic cups on the environment

Coffee cups are a huge source of plastic pollution, as they contain a plastic paste known as polyethylene which helps the cup keep your coffee warm, but also prevents it from being recycled.

16 billion paper cups are used every year, leading to 6.5 million trees being cut down, 4 billion gallons of water going to waste, and enough energy to power 54,000 homes for a year also goes to waste.

You can help the environment by using reusable cups, rather than plastic or paper. This reuse and refill model is starting to be employed in supermarkets and cafes.

Should I recycle or reuse plastics?

Where possible, it's best to avoid using plastic and to recycle as a last resort. By using reusable alternatives you don't have to recycle.

There is evidence that some recycling has ended up being shipped abroad and even some to Asia, where it has been dumped in the rainforest , rather than recycled.

Banning plastic bags to save the environment

Progress has been made to reduce plastic usage since the introduction of fees in supermarkets. But, abroad there have been campaigns to ban plastic bags.

Several African countries, including Kenya, have banned plastic bags entirely. In Mauritius, they only use a dissolvable corn starch plastic bag in the supermarkets, even away from the tourist areas.

Conclusion

If you've made it to the end of this post, we hope you're now looking at the plastic bag in your living room differently or the plastic bottle you bought from the supermarket.

We all are learning about the effects of plastic and there are huge steps to go in making a big difference. If you're not already fully converted, we hope we've inspired you to try some new, more environmentally friendly products and we'd love it if you would consider some of our own.

Know someone that is eco mad? But, can't decide what to buy them for their birthday or Christmas? Perhaps one of our could be the perfect present for them.

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How knowledgeable do you consider yourself when it comes to environmental change? Are you closer to the newbie and keen to learn supporter or are you so clued up you could give David Attenborough a run for his money?

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Plastic Straws & Cutlery | Habits of Waste

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Be a Plastic Straw & Cutlery HoW Changer. REFUSE Say no to plastic straws & cutlery! REPLACE Use plastic straw alternatives, such as paper, metal, glass, bamboo and even pasta straws. More alternatives here (link this to the Straws Recommendations section).