TreeHugger Picks: Green Countertops
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 03.19.07
Green remodeling and home improvement have been a pretty hot topic here at TreeHugger for awhile now, with good reason. Investing in a greener abode is a great way to make your home's interior healthier, as well as more valuable upon resale. Though just a small piece of the remodel puzzle, there are still lots of green options when it comes to countertops with a lighter footprint.
1) EnviroGLAS' Terrazzo is made with 100% post consumer recycled glass from bottles, plate glass, mirrors and car windshields.
2) Richlite is a paper-based countertop material made by treating FSC-certified paper with a phenolic resin, and then baking it to create solid sheets.
3) Icestone made of 75% recycled glass and 17–18% white Portland cement, resulting in a material that's nearly as strong and heat resistant as granite and less porous than marble.
4) Alkemi is made from "post-industrial scrap aluminum" cast into resin.
5) Green countertops can be part of a real-life kitchen renovation on a budget, as detailed by the Washington Post.
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Another great product is Paperstone Certified from Paneltech in Hoquiam, WA.
it's made from FSC Certified 100% Post Consumer Recycled Paper with a water based resin using non-petroleum phenols
it's comparable in price with other "non-green" building products as well.
it's a win-win!!!
http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/paperstone-certified/
It doesn't appear that Richlite uses FSC-certified paper anymore. They are a little sketchy about how much recycled content they use and the phenol resin they use is petroleum-based and non-recyclable.
So, virgin wood shellacked with petroleum. Not exactly what I'd call "green".
3 form has also entered the market with their 100% line
http://www.3-form.com/materials-100_percent.php
I've got a little differant perspective. Check it out at www.kbbgreen.com. Jeffrey
Looking for new countertops for kitchen - has anyone heard of Polystone? Thanks.
RECYCLED GLASS CEMENT SURFACE PROVIDE GREEN SOLUTION FOR COUNTERTOPS
Santa Ana, CA—February 1, 2008—In an effort to support the California Department of Conservation, Eco Surfaces™ has announced the manufacture of Urbanslabs™ sustainable cement-based slabs now available for a variety of residential, commercial and hospitality surface applications. Crafted by hand, Urbanslabs™ consist of 60% recycled, post-consumer glass containers such as beer, wine and liquor bottles that are commonly sent to landfill. This patent pending process contains no resinous binders.
“Eco Surfaces is taking a truly innovative look at the use of waste as a resource,” said architect Jorden Segraves, chair of the United States Green Building Council’s Pacific Regional and Orange County chapters. “Urbanslabs™ represent a completely new use for discarded glass. The company is effectively replacing a farmed resource with a reclaimed or “found” resource that fills a unique niche in the industry and product market.”
Urbanslabs™ are manufactured using a proprietary cement matrix. Light weight 3/4” (2 cm) and 1¼” (3cm) Urbanslabs™ are made possible by an advanced mix design and unique manufacturing process.
Urbanslabs™ can be cut, bull-nosed, seamed and polished just like the fabrication of natural stone slabs such as granite. Urbanslabs™ can be utilized for a wide array of surface uses including countertops, bathroom vanities, shower panels, floor tiles, backsplash tiles, bathroom stall dividers, wall clad panels, outdoor living surfaces and for furniture tops.
Available in six colors, Urbanslabs™ coordinate with a variety of décor themes. Eco Surfaces’ unique surface-polishing process exposes the glass and provides excellent scratch resistance, while offering a refreshing new look to the industry. Concrete sealer is applied to the Urbanslabs™ at time of manufacture and again at installation to provide outstanding protection from stains.
Urbanslabs™ offer an economical investment compared to poured-in-place and pre-cast concrete countertops, which costs hundreds of dollars per square foot installed.
Urbanslabs™ are available in the following dimensions, 8’ X 3’ X ¾” (2cm) and 10’ X 5’ 6” X 1¼” (3cm). Custom sizes, colors and finishes can be created upon request.
To locate a distributor or for technical questions, please call 714-954-0161.
“SUSTAINABLE SURFACES FOR URBAN LIVING™”
how is Resin eco friendly and wouldn't scrap aluminum be better recycled as metal than locked up in a countertop? Also, I read that putting certain kinds of glass in concrete countertops can compromise the integrity of the concrete, some dissolves and again, wouldn't glass be better off recycled as glass than locked up in a countertop? Is this all downcycling using recycled products that may be better off recycled? I think when it comes to kitchen remodeling picking something you are going to love and keep forever would be the most sustainable choice...
To answer the question about locking up glass in a countertop as downcycling: This is untrue. Melting down the glass to create fiber glass or other materials (sometimes multiple times) uses more energy than mixing it with cement as an aggregate to create incredibly strong countertops that last for years. The original creator of recycled glass countertops is Vetrazzo, which has the highest recycled content of any recycled glass countertops on the market. Like its competitors Vetrazzo uses all recycled glass, however it takes it a step further with a finished product containing 85% glass. Vetrazzo has been making countertops for over 12 years now and is happy to answers any questions or concerns concerning its durability.
Trend USA has introduced 9 new colors for Trend Q, the recycled stone agglomerate material that is scratch, heat, stain and water resistant. Inspired by the calm beauty found in nature the new colors are evocative of organic hues ranging from the robin’s egg blue, to stalks of wheat and mustard blossoms. The collection of 49 Trend Q colors contain up to 72% post consumer recycled content integrated with glass from recycled beer, gin, and water bottles, copper infused Aventurina and mother of pearl to add sparkle and depth. Trend Q, available from 12” tiles to custom size panels, works on any surface-floors, countertops, walls, even furniture. The flexible ¼” thin material makes it a perfect choice for remodeling, as it can be installed over existing surfaces making demolition and waste obsolete. Manufactured in the United States, Trend Q is designed to offer an ecologically conscious product, strong enough for any surface application for both residential and commercial use with the critical characteristics necessary to contribute to LEED certification. For more information about Trend Q please call #1.866.508.7363 or visit www.trendgroup-usa.com
What about tiled countertops? Recycled plywood base, recycled glass tiles. You can do it yourself if you are adventurous or handy.