Going Earth Friendly in the Kitchen

Going green used to mean going BORING, but not so anymore! Many new materials are appearing in the marketplace, as well as new uses for old materials.

Earth friendly kitchen countertop materials are one of the most exciting products to come on the market recently. These products can be anything from modern to earthy, and all use a high level of recycled products in the manufacturing process.

Being "green" or earth friendly doesn’t just mean using natural materials. Since natural materials like granite are not replaceable, they’re really not truly "green". So, out with the granite and in with more sustainable resources!

A good example of using a sustainable (replaceable) resource is to use bamboo flooring instead of other wood products. Bamboo grows incredibly fast (think "weed") instead of taking many many years to replace, like an oak tree.

Products like EnviroGlas and IceStone are some of the most exciting new creations on the market. EnviroGlas uses multi-colored glass chips from discarded bottles, mirrors and plate windows to achieve a sparkling multi-colored surface harder than traditional marble Terrazzo. IceStone is made in a similar manner, by adding pigment to the background mix, and then selecting from a variety of sizes and colors of glass.

For a more modern look, choose Alkemi, a recycled composite material made of at least 60% post-industrial scrap aluminum and polymeric resins. While Alkemi doesn’t offer the custom color combinations available with EnviroGlas and IceStone, it does offer a variety of colors and the option of a textured or honed finish.

Other options include Eleek metal tiles and countertops, which may be a bit too modern for an entire kitchen installation, but would be great as an accent to use with other countertop products. Eleek is made of recycled aluminum, and countertop sections are joined without grout lines. Eleek may also be purchased as tiles to include in an installation with other earth friendly materials.

Also available are various tile products made of a high concentration of recycled materials. Among these are products from Oceanside Glasstile, which is made from silica sand (an abundant natural resource) and up to 86 percent recycled material. These mosaic tiles make great accents to any kitchen installation. Fireclay Tile’s Debris Series is a terra cotta tile containing 50% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials, and also makes great accent pieces.

When you’re ready to update your tired old kitchen countertops, be sure to consider these exciting new earth friendly countertop options instead of going with tried-and-true granite. They’re easier on the environment, and more durable as well!