Green your kitchen with counters made of paper - Paperstone that is
Now that we've discovered the dangerously radioactive qualities of granite kitchen counters, the search for green alternatives is on!One cool sounding choice is PaperStone, a composite material made from recycled paper and proprietary, petroleum-free phenolic resins made from raw materials like cashew nut shell liquid.
Claiming to be the "greenest architectural surface on the market today", PaperStone offers two recycled lines: Original, made of 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, and Certified which is made from 100% post-consumer standard office paper.
PaperStone is certified through the Smartwood program of the Rainforest Alliance to meet FSC standards, and you can earn up to nine LEED points when you use it, so the creditials are there.
In terms of looks, that's really an individual decision, but it comes in some pretty colors, like cabernet (deep red), slate (dark grey), and of course, evergreen!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-25-2008 @ 11:23AM
ryan said...
Hmm... kinda concerned about their using South American rain forest trees for the sealant on their product. Sounds very unsustainable to me...
That you can get LEED points by using their material MUST mean that they are doing something right though...
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10-25-2008 @ 11:54AM
Allison said...
While I understand the desire to be green, how can I get a kitchen that looks like this with green products? We have an old house and would love this type of country kitchen, but where do I go to make sure the materials are green?
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/12446.shtml
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10-26-2008 @ 5:41PM
Daltile Urbanslabs said...
MEDIA CONTACT:
Eco Precast, LLC
714-954-0161 office
714-954-0163 fax
info@urbanslabs.com
www.urbanslabs.com
RECYCLED GLASS CEMENT SURFACE PROVIDE GREEN SOLUTION FOR COUNTERTOPS
Santa Ana, CA—October 1, 2008—In an effort to support the California Department of Conservation, Eco Precast™ 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 50% recycled, post-consumer glass containers such as beer, wine and liquor bottles that are commonly sent to landfill and 10% recycled post industrial waste. This patent pending process contains no resinous binders.
“Eco Precast 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” (2cm) 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 nine colors, Urbanslabs™ coordinate with a variety of décor themes. Eco Precast unique surface-polishing process exposes the glass and provides excellent scratch resistance, while offering a refreshing new look to the industry. A Zero VOC sealer is applied to the Urbanslabs™ at time of manufacture 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™”
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10-27-2008 @ 1:50PM
DJ in CR said...
I know it seems almost counter-intuitive, Ryan, when you read so much about the devastating loss of tropical forests. But if it's Forest Stewardship Council/Rainforest Alliance Certified, that means the wood is indeed harvested sustainably, with minimum damage to the ecoystem, leaving enough trees so that they can regenerate and cause no harm to wildlife, plus -- very important -- providing local communities with a way to make a living. It's practical conservation that helps people and the planet. ~DJ (I work for the Rainforest Alliance in Costa Rica)
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