The future of design lies in resource-efficient, sustainably harvested, and healthy materials.
There are many manufacturing companies working on even better environmentally responsible materials suitable
for kitchen countertops. Some of these are listed below, but there are many others and it is worth your time
to research these materials – if you are seriously looking for ways to create a new kitchen using sustainable,
green materials.
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.
<LI>It has taken Cosentino a great investment in time and money, but finally they have come up
with a recycled countertop material for use in kitchen and bathrooms. The countertop 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 lifecycle 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 comes in slabs and tiles. It can be used commercially and residentially.
Eco is a beautiful looking countertop that has the added bonus of minimizing our carbon footprint.</LI>
<LI>Another green material for countertops is “Vertazzo”, an attractive solid terrazzo countertop 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.</LI>
<LI>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. </LI>
<LI>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.</LI>
<LI>Alkemi is an innovative material being used in countertops. 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 moulded 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. </LI>
<LI>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.</LI>
<LI>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. </LI>
<LI>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. </LI>
<LI>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.</LI>
<LI>Richlite makes paper based countertops 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 countertops 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. </LI>
<LI>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, nonfruiting palms grown in plantations in many parts of the world.Palms
produce nuts for about 80 years and then are removed and replaced. Coconut palmwood can vary greatly in color
and density. Only the hard, dark palm is used for its beauty and durable surface.</LI>
<LI>Lumicor is very similar in construction to that of solid surface countertops. 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 countertops. 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 countertops 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.</LI>
As most recycled glass countertops 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 countertops 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 benchtops 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 countertops 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. The website offers techniques and ideas for new
kitchens and remodeling out-dated ones.
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