A recent example of a company releasing a new material that fits the bill for environmentally-responsible
products to use in home construction, is Cosentino.
It has taken Cosentino a great investment in time and money, but finally they have come up with a recycled
counter top material for use in kitchen and bathrooms. The counter top is called 'Eco' and has recently been
launched. Cosentino is the largest manufacturer of quartz in the world and one of the largest natural stone
importers. Eco is made up of 75% recycled consumer and industrial raw materials and 25% natural elements. It
looks very like an engineered stone or solid surface material, and is available in 10 colors at the moment.
The company says that it has performed well in tests for scorching, staining and scratching resistance. The
actual recycled materials include mirrors, windows and bottled glass, granulated glass from consumer recycling
practices, porcelain from domestic products such as tiles, sinks and toilets, stone scrap from quarries and
mountains and fabrication, furnace residuals (ash) from factories and a bonding agent containing 22% corn oil
resin, also the result of research into eco-friendly resin. Many designers, architects and consumers will be
excited about using this revolutionary material that meets the challenge to produce environmentally responsible
materials for construction. By "upcycling" these products, the company is using materials at the end of their
life cycle that would otherwise be put into landfill sites. Re-using the projected amount of glass bottles every
year, for example, means that landfill space will be significantly reduced. The surface is hard, durable and
non-porous and doesn't require sealers. A matte leather texture as well as a polished texture is available. Eco
co
that has the added bonus of minimizing our carbon footprint.
Another green material for counter tops is "Vertazzo", an attractive solid terrazzo counter top made from recycled glass and cast concrete. It is durable and tough as granite, but not as porous as marble. Now a designer choice, vertazzo is very beautiful... the polished glass looks extraordinary in the concrete, picking out colors in the rest of your kitchen in a subtle and luxurious way. This material gives off no odors or fumes and there are any number of finishes. What makes it green? Terrazzo is an aggregate of glass, stone and binders and several companies use high amounts of recycled glass, up to 100%. The recycled content diverts glass from landfills which is a tremendous benefit to the environment. Some terrazzo is made with concrete making the indoor applications extremely benign in regard to indoor air quality.
Shetkastone has produced a material from pre and post consumer waste paper, cloth fibers and paint. All
by-products can be recycled back into the manufacturing process. The 'stone' looks just like natural stone and
comes in different colors. Best of all, it can be recycled again if it needs to be replaced. While it has the
look of stone, it can be cut and screwed like wood. It is water and stain resistant.
Eco top surfaces are a blend of bamboo fiber, and recycled wood fiber from demolition sites. Bamboo is a very
easily renewable source; it takes 3 to 6 years to regrow bamboo for harvesting. However, processing consumes a
lot of energy when the bamboo is converted to synthetic building materials such as laminated planking and
flooring. More importantly, because bamboo products are mainly from countries like China, they have to be
transported over great distances before reaching Western markets. The materials are bound by a water-based
resin formula. It is best not to have too near a wet area.
Alkemi is an innovative material being used in counter tops. It is made up of 2 materials...curled shavings
of aluminium from scrap (everything from aerospace to household appliances) and polymetric resin. This resin
is made of a material similar to polyester. Alkemi can be molded and joined as needed, and it is very durable.
The surface is unique and the coils of aluminium reflect light in a beautiful fashion. If you are tired of
granite...look at this.
Sqak Mountain Stone is another eco-friendly material that resembles soapstone or limestone. It is made of
recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and cement. The material is hand cast into slabs. The look is
very natural, warm and solid.
Metal Tiles are sleek 100% recycled aluminium and give off a glint that reflects surrounding colors. The smooth
surface is an exciting contrast to the other textures around it in the kitchen. It is best used as an accent in
smaller amounts rather than a large expanse. Eleek's aluminium tiles come in a few different metallic colors -
bronze, red, silver, black and rock.
Trinity Glass products are made from recycled glass and low-carbon cement. They are composite surfaces that look
like a very polished stone. Many colors are available.
Lithistone is made from natural sand and stone of different grades, recycled materials, organic mineral pigments
and a natural mineral binder. It can be customized to meet almost any size, color, shape and textural
specifications. The way in which lithistone is created, is environmentally responsible.
Richlite makes paper based counter tops too. Made from environmentally sustainable sources, the company
manufactures attractive, durable, long-lasting materials. The fibrous materials made from paper-fiber
composites soaked in phenolic resin. The counter tops are as strong as stone, but, of course, not as heavy.
Richlite doesn't release harmful gases into the air - it is Green Guard certified for Children & Schools
(the highest possible rating) with no detectable level of off gassing.
Durapalm is harvested from coconut palms - this wood is slightly stronger than oak. Duraplam's co-friendliness
rating is 100% as it is derived from old, non fruiting palms grown in plantations in many parts of the world.
Palms produce nuts for about 80 years and then are removed and replaced. Coconut palm wood can vary greatly in
color and density. Only the hard, dark palm is used for its beauty and durable surface.
Lumicor is very similar in construction to that of solid surface counter tops. Lumicor is made from clear resins
such as acrylic or PETG and is blended with core decorative materials. These core design elements can be metallic,
neutrals, botanicals, wood workings, color ways or embosses. Lumicor looks similar to glass and provides
exceptional clarity when used as counter tops. It is extremely durable, non porous and resistant to UV damage.
Scratches and stains can be easily removed using polishing discs. It is half the weight of glass counter tops
and can resist impact forces 42x greater than tempered glass. Lumicor can be manipulated with wood working tools
and is extremely versatile. It is available in a range of patterns and colors.
As most recycled glass counter tops are one piece and cut to order, they are extremely hygienic as they cannot
support food and dirt. There are no seams or joins. Glass is non-porous and relatively stain proof as well
as
being extremely heat resistant (up to 700 degrees). Glass counter tops are quite difficult to keep clean as
finger prints and moisture marks show easily if not dried off well. To maintain, just use a non abrasive cleaner
and polish regularly.
Still sold on stone? Natural stone, like granite, is beautiful and durable but a finite resource. The quarry and
mining of natural stone has a negative impact on ecosystems including water quality. Natural stone also uses a
lot of energy in transport so it carries a heavy resource burden.
Often the cost of using environmentally -friendly materials puts people off even considering them. Actually, the
price of using eco friendly materials is usually about the same as any other materials. Most major companies are
now manufacturing these environmentally responsible alternatives. Wood, metal and glass are all great options for
improving the aesthetics of your kitchen, and are all eco friendly. Beautiful bench tops are manufactured from
recycled glass - only look at them in your nearest showroom and you'll be amazed at how pretty and functional
they can be...
By taking advantage of the current kitchen trends when it comes to eco-friendly ideas, you are ensuring health
benefits for your family and setting a great example for others to follow. Whichever option you decide upon, the
choices for eco friendly counter tops are many, and you're sure to find one that fits your design when planning
your new eco-friendly kitchen.
The author Susan Pitters co-ordinates a group of designers who have had many years of designing and remodeling experience. As passionate renovators, they have created a website dedicated to passing on all that they have learned through designing and carrying out countless renovations. http://www.clever-kitchen-designs.com
