Italian Kitchen Design Keeps Getting Greener with New Valcucine

Okay, it seems like a nice idea, but, I would like to know the environmental impact, cost, carbon footprint and ethics behind extracting silicon from sand from the beaches, melting it to 2000Celsius or relevant temperture, percentage glass rejected due to air bubbles for aesthetic reasons etc.
then the cost of recrushing/resmelting and are people prepared to get it recycled at their cost (if that's how it ends up) when its finished.

Bring on the matter converting nanomachines, I say. Of course, they will require amazing engineering and carbon footprints to reproduce until they can make themselves.
But, what a hazard that would be due to business/money/corporate attitudes.

Replies please. Let's have a good, educated chat, no myths or urban legends etc.

Love the flatpak -- of course, Ikea's been doing that with their kitchens for years. Not sure how using glass for drawers is better than using stainless steel, which is endlessly recyclable and may be a recycled part of your kitchen without you knowing. I for one wouldn't be thrilled with glass drawers, but I have small kids. And while I like the idea of a kitchen lasting decades, we need to change how people think about renovating before that becomes a fulfilled promise. Seems like kitchen renovations are highly popular whenever someone moves -- and I've seen people rip out brand new kitchens because it's not their style. So built to last -- love it. Will it last, given our consumer-driven must change to make it absolutely mine mindset? Not so sure.

Of course, I'm also not a fan of ridiculously expensive green like Valcucine. I went with an Ikea kitchen -- flatpacked, low to no VOC, fabulously modern, Blum hardware and drawers. Probably for a minute fraction of what Valcucine would charge. And if I didn't mention it was Ikea.... you probably wouldn't know.

I can see this idea being a great alternative for people with chemical sensitivities. As there will be no off gassing!

I also like the flat packing. But how heavy is it? Do you need a forklift to set it up?

We have to keep in mind, that a lot of companies are working on the so called perfect solution to produce products with only minimal impact on the planet. It's not a easy task but we are getting closer ;-)

Cheers,
www.ecofurniture.ca

A concern I have is that while Europeans might me more welcoming of such a kitchen, Americans are caught up in a throw-a-way society. Meaning, should this new kitchen meet environmentalists' and conservationsits approval, how will it survive the remodeling and wanting-a-change immediate gratification needs of those who get tired of decor and feel they need to change it every few years?

I'm thinking of friends who call themselves Greenies who throw porcelein tubs in the dump in favor or something cleaner and brighter with less of a carbon footprint - forgetting they are contributing to leaving a larger footprint! Etc...

A concern I have is that while Europeans might me more welcoming of such a kitchen, Americans are caught up in a throw-a-way society. Meaning, should this new kitchen meet environmentalists' and conservationsits approval, how will it survive the remodeling and wanting-a-change immediate gratification needs of those who get tired of decor and feel they need to change it every few years?

I'm thinking of friends who call themselves Greenies who throw porcelein tubs in the dump in favor or something cleaner and brighter with less of a carbon footprint - forgetting they are contributing to leaving a larger footprint! Etc...

I like how he says that the glass countertop "breaks apart." :D

Nitpicking aside, it looks better than anything you'd find at Ikea.

I think it's beautiful - I wouldn't try to compare it with Ikea, this is much better quality and will last so much longer. And I love the glass - which can be very sturdy depending how it's made, and easy to clean.