There are many eco-friendly countertops on the market today that hold up well under heavy use. They combine natural and man-made materials in composite slabs, and usually integrate recycled materials as well, while remaining very attractive and utilitarian alternatives to mainstream countertops.
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IceStone countertops (www.icestone.biz) are made of cement and glass, 75% of it recycled. Thousands of pieces of polished glass (which used to be beer bottles, windshields, or traffic lights) are set in a base of concrete, and these surfaces are available in almost any color. Vetrazzo (www.vetrazzo.com) is similar product, using 80% recycled glass. Vetrazzo is more highly customized and is made with larger chunks of glass. In addition, EnviroSlab (www.enviroglasproducts.com) sets recycled glass into a color-pigmented epoxy resin, but the epoxy resin base is less eco-friendly than the cement base.
Paper-and-resin composites are made from recycled newspaper, cardboard, and waste paper. These slab counters can be sawn, drilled, screwed, or routed just like wood or Corian, and come in a variety of colors. PaperStone (www.paperstoneproducts.com) leads the industry and is composed of a natural resin and 100% recycled post-consumer paper, resulting in a strong and durable end product.
Alkemi (www.renewedmaterials.com) uses curled shavings of shredded scrap aluminum embedded in a resin that comes in dozens of colors. The metal reflects light, resulting in a modern space-age look that is also durable and heat-resistant.
With so many top-of-the-line alternatives, making your new or existing home more eco-friendly is easier and more beautiful than ever.
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