Environment Conscious Countertop Selections
Kitchens and food preparation areas have level work areas called counter tops. Commonly, cabinets are installed above & below. Many different materials, ranging from stone, to wood, to plastic, to tiles, and even steel, among numerous others, can be used in making counter tops.
But because of the growing awareness for the environment, there are now items for counter tops that are not only durable, but also great looking and environment friendly. So if you’re looking for a new countertop and are leaning to materials that are a little gentler on the earth than laminate or stone, there are now several choices available that are made from recycled products, can be recycled at end-of-life — or are both recycled and recyclable — or are made from renewable resources.
Some of the greener counter top alternatives are as follows:
1. Stainless steel – Stainless steel counter tops consist of, on average, 75% recycled steel & can contain up to 100% recycled content. They are non-porous and antibacterial, and give off no VOCs. However, they do show fingerprints & scratch quickly.
2. Recycled glass – These days, there are many recycled glass counter tops on the market. Each of them has their own unique charm.
3. BioGlass – This consists of 100% recycled & recyclable glass. It can be used for backsplashes or counter tops and is available in 6 natural colors.
4. Alkemi – This material is made from 35% “fine flake aluminum milling scrap,” a post-industrial waste product. It is available in 3 different surface treatments (textured, classic & honed) and twelve colors to choose from.
5. Paperstone – It is a material made from either 100% post-consumer cardboard or 100% post-consumer office paper fused with a non-petroleum based resin. It can be used for as kitchen & bathroom counter tops and comes in a variety of colors.
6. IceStone – This is made in Brooklyn, New York. This product has a surface twice as durable as marble, because it uses 100% glass which is otherwise bound for landfill, mixed with concrete. Similar to stone products, it does need to be sealed on a regular basis. You can get it in a variety of colours.
Find a large selection of table top and counter tops leaving your kitchen a cleaner look.