Im gonna have a browse at what options are available for the homeowner or DIY'er whoe want to go eco friendly and wants to turn their kitchen into a green kitchen. So what are the options for green kitchen countertops? There is a wide variety of materials that fall under the eco friendly and green kitchen banner, so lets take a look at whats available.
Many of them come from recycled or reclaimed materials, so theoretically little or no extra energy has been used to create these items . Of course we want to ensure that the eco friendly materials that we are purchasing can stand up to wear and tear just as well as non green items, so testing of the materials beforehand is essential. This of course can be done by requesting samples from manufacturers and suppliers, and then putting the samples of their green kitchen items through their paces. We need to know that the worktop created from reclaimed wood is just as good as standing up to red wine, cooking oil or pasta sauce as the brand new solid wood worktop we buy. Of course if your going to test for scratches, then you definitely need to ensure you are only doing this on samples, as most people wont take too kindly to you running a kitchen knife across their brand new recycled glass worktop.
Shetkastone.com Shetkastone is a revolutionary product that has a 100% sustainable life cycle. Products that are produced from shetkaSTONE are manufactured from pre and post consumer waste paper and rely on using none of the Earth's overtapped resources. All by-products (waste created in the manufacturing process) can be recycled back into the manufacturing process.
ShetkaStone is a product that is created from recycled paper and is used to produce various items for the home. The manufacturer produces countertops but also tables, moldings, tiles, vanities, office furniture etc. They use recycled paper fibers from cardboard, newspapers, old currency notes etc, combined with plaster, polyester and glue, to produce a product that varies from 55% TO 90% recycled materials, other paper.
Eleek Recycled Products. Eleek products recycled products such as countertops and tiles that are made from recycled materials and use a lot less energy to produce than brand new materials. “Our aluminum and iron products are 100% recycled. Our bronze products are at least 90% recycled. Our patterns for Eleek sinks are made from wood that is at least 70% salvaged. Our retail display cabinetry is made from MDF that is 100% reclaimed or recycled. We reuse or recycle all scrap metal”.
Lithistone Environmentally appropriate technologies are combined to create proprietary mixes, which consist of a natural mineral binder, different grades of sand and stone, recycled material, and organic mineral pigments. Lithistone can be customized to meet virtually any specifications with regards to size, shape, colors, and textural variations. Lithistone is a magnesium-based eco-ceramic-cement that is roughly twice as strong as high strength Portland cement and uses 1/20 of the energy to produce. Lithistone is an environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cast stone medium that can replace concrete, tile, natural stone and porcelain. Lithistone products contain between 25% and 75% recycled and post-industrial waste. Lithistone products range from sinks, countersinks, troughs, tables, countertop slabs, pedestals, bath tubs, shower floor pans, tiles, fountains, platters, vases, bowls, planters, and sculpture. Lithistone products do require maintenance, despite being sold sealed and waxed. Waxing every few months is recommended, and additional sealing of the products is also recommended every five to ten years. Lithistone will patina due to age, pigmentation, and surface variations but this can be a benefit for cast stone counters and sinks, which become enhanced over time because the color varies. Certain colors are affected more, and if too undesirable can be re-polished to restore the original finish. Most stains can be easily lifted out but acidic kitchen liquids such as vinegar and lemon juice will etch the surface over time if not cleaned up and left to stand.
Squak Mountain Stone A Fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and Portland cement. Material is hand-cast into “slabs” as an alternative to natural or quarried stone. Resembles soapstone or limestones.
Trinity Glass Products are Recycled glass and concrete countertops the offer the appearance of polished granite, without the negative environmental consequences that result from mining natural stone. Trinity products are individually handcrafted using locally-sourced, post-consumer and post-industrial recycled material.
Eco-top EcoTop is composed of a Forest Stewardship Council-certified 50/50 blend of bamboo fiber, a rapidly renewable resource, and recycled wood fiber salvaged from demolition sites. These materials are bound together by a water-based resin formula that is both petroleum-free and VOC-free. Because of this, EcoTop products can earn you up to six points on your next LEED project.
IceStone IceStone® durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic making it a very safe material from the standpoint of toxicity and fire resistance. Due to its high recycled content and Cradle to Cradle Certification, IceStone® materials can be used towards LEED points.
EnviroGlas EnviroGLAS Terrazzo is made of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled glass. Over 40 billion glass bottles are made every year, and 75% of them wind up in landfills. Many municipalities have stopped collecting glass for recycling due to a lack of market. We offer a solution to that problem. Each EnviroGLAS product is about 75% recycled glass and 25% binder by volume.
Richlite Company, a manufacturer of paper-based countertops, offers a collection of warm and natural-feeling surface materials that breathe new life into the kitchen, bath and office. Richlite’s® unique paper surfaces bring a soft and comfortable ambience to a room that's rarely achieved through cold, hard stone and plastic solid surfaces. It’s made from environmentally sustainable resources and is an attractive, durable, long-lasting material that complements a variety of design tastes.
Avonite's way sticks to principles of sustainable design - designing and constructing buildings which sit neatly with the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability and conservation. Avonite Surfaces has created ecologically sound products which are cost-effective and elegant.
Alkemi Made from 60% post industrial aluminum waste and resins. It is strong and exquisitely beautiful to the eye. Surfaces may sanded and buffed to a matte or high gloss.
Vetrazzo All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up about 85% of the total material. Most of the glass comes from urban recycling programs. Other glass comes from windows, dinnerware, stemware, windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, traffic lights and other unusual sources. Due to its high recycled content, using Vetrazzo can help your project qualify for LEED certification.
Craft-Art Company Wood countertops and reclaimed wood. Eight new reclaimed wood countertop options are now available from Craft-Art. The use of beautiful wood from the 1800s and 1900s, eco-friendly and functional, supports the goal to recycle the Earth’s resources as part of the sustainable building movement. Barn Red Oak, Chestnut, Beech, Heart Pine, Cypress, Barn White Oak.
Endura Wood Products Endura Wood Products offers a wide variety of certified and rediscovered woods and wood products for homes and business. We believe that sourcing and offering only certified and rediscovered forest products is the best way to insure that our children can still see and use-both the forest and the trees.
Syndcrete Natural cement based, pre cast product, green/sustainable, high recycled content, chemically inert, no off-gassing, aggregates: post consumer bottle glass, tempered glass, wood chips, metal shavings, shells, more. Contributes from 2-8 LEED points.
Bio Glass Glass is made of almost 100% crystalline silica in the form of quartz containing 70-72% weight % silicon dioxide. Bio-Glass consists of 100% recycled glass. Bio-Glass colors depend on recycled components (hollow glass, tableware, and/or factory shards)
Caeserstone CaesarStone is the first and only quartz surface to earn the ISO 14001 Certification for its compliance and commitment to the best green manufacturing processes. The company is committed to creating a better quality environment and is implementing procedures to prevent pollution and waste reduction at its manufacturing facility. In addition, CaesarStone is also certfied ISO 9002 (Quality Management standard) and NSF 51, is LEED (new commercial construction and major renovation projects) compliant and sports the Good Housekeeping Seal.
VitraStone We fabricate eco friendly sinks and surfaces made from a special blend of ceramic cement, fly ash, and recycled glass. VitraStone has a soft satin finish with endless color and design options. We offer a selection of standard sink and countertop systems along with a custom design service. We are available nation wide and will ship anywhere. For residential and commercial applications, VitraStone is a smart choice.
It would be nice to get a chance to handle and break down all of these green countertop products and options mentioned and report back. We will also try and add anoy new materials and products to this article as we come across them. Add a comment if you have found an interesting green countertop material or product. Let us know if you have used or would consider an eco friendly green countertop material
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