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| Kitchen Countertop Image source: Pixabay with CC0 public domain license |
Here is our take on the emerging trends in recycled countertops:
1. Recycled Glass Countertops. In recent times, refurbishments have incorporated everything from sinks to counters made of recycled glass, and this material can now be found in several homes across the country. You can have a hard, even, an easy-to-care-for surface that doesn’t need the care required by stone, and you get to pick from a huge number of color combinations.
2. Other Eco-Options. Recycled countertops also come in plastic, which is less costly than glass. Fast-growing, moisture-resistant bamboo is another favorite countertop material. You can also get recycled wood and metal countertops almost anywhere in the country. Ceramic tile countertops with recycled glass content are another environmentally friendly choice.
3. Modern Green Materials. EcoTop is the first fully recyclable material, and it is made of 50% pulped bamboo paper fiber and 50% recycled wood – the “urban timber” or structural wood recovered from torn down buildings. Besides being beautiful and extremely durable, EcoTop is a truly green material, and it is also affordable and easy to install.
See also: Building an eco-friendly kitchen
There are many more options available on the market today than there were a few years ago. Vetrazzo is a very popular recycled glass countertop and surface material that has received much media attention recently. It is clean, green and charming. Each of these options is enjoying mass-market appeal, and you should consider them if you are remodeling your kitchen or bathroom.
As I plan and prepare for our home and kitchen overhaul, I am, of course, focused on making sure we make the greenest choices possible. So I started researching “green” options for countertops and came up with a few great options that everyone is raving about.
1) Recycled glass: Because of the broad range of colors, glass can bring beautiful color to your kitchen. Personally, I am not extremely fond of the brightly speckled appearance of the countertops that many vendors supplied but liked the most subtle finish from ECO™ by Cosentino. Eco is made of 75% recycled content composed of post-industrial or post-consumer materials and is bound by an environmentally friendly resin.
2) PaperStone: I’d never heard of this options before – which is simply recycled paper that’s compressed into a stonelike material. However, while it is strong like stone, I did read some reports that its edges may cheap rather easily – something that should be investigated before you commit to it for your kitchen. Search for the local dealer at Paperstoneproducts.net. This gorgeous eco-friendly kitchen featured on Inhabitat.com utilizes recycled paper countertops.
See also: Kitchen Garden-growing your own food
3) Bamboo: I’ve always been a fan of the natural beauty of wood and love the-the idea of using it in your kitchen. However, I hesitate when I think there may even be the smallest potential for water damage. This is only because I admit I am not the most particular when it comes to immediately swapping up splashes and water spills. Otherwise, this is a wonderful option. Below is an image of the butcher block countertop from Teragren.Bamboo Countertop from Teragren.
4) Concrete: I had to add this one because I love the simple, streamlined look a concrete countertop can give. Although not traditionally considered “green” perhaps (due to the energy and materials – outside of rocks and natural components – required to fabricate) I was excited to learn that some manufacturers have found a way to make concrete a more eco-friendly countertop alternative.
