Description
Date: 10 September, 2026, 06.00 UTC and 13.00 UTC.
Estimated Time: 1 hr
Language: English
Summary of the lecture
New research is reshaping what we thought we knew about “safe” kitchenware. A groundbreaking white paper by worldstainless has revealed that everyday materials such as plastics, PTFE-coated non-stick cookware, and even ceramics can release harmful substances during normal cooking and food-handling conditions.
This steelTalk examines why stainless steel is emerging as the modern benchmark for healthy, durable, and environmentally responsible kitchens. The session will unpack the white paper’s key findings and explain how stainless steel’s corrosion resistance, self-repairing passive layer, long service life, and recyclability make it a strong alternative to materials that may present safety or sustainability concerns.
In this steelTalk, Tim Collins, Secretary General at worldstainless, will explain the science behind safe kitchenware and explore the path forward towards truly safe kitchens.
What you will learn:
- Understand how common kitchenware materials behave under real cooking temperatures.
- Explore what scientific evidence shows about chemical migration into food.
- Learn why stainless steel’s passive layer supports safe, durable, and sustainable food contact.
Speaker Introduction
Tim Collins
Secretary General, worldstainless
Tim Collins was born and grew up in Sheffield, the home of UK stainless steelmaking. While at school, he worked part-time for his father making steelworks thermocouples and laboratory furnaces.
After leaving school, he studied metallurgy at university and joined British Steel Stainless immediately after graduating. A succession of industry mergers saw Tim undertake senior stainless technical, operations and supply chain roles in the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK before joining the ISSF, now worldstainless, in August 2019.
During his career, Tim also studied Goldratt’s teaching on lean flow and operations, gained a postgraduate diploma in operations and inventory management and completed a master’s degree in business administration.
Away from work, Tim supports his boyhood football club, Sheffield Wednesday, and enjoys rock music, cycling, fine wines and craft ales.
Course Content
