EKKO

When it comes to counter top materials, there are a lot of choices out there. But, most contain harmful chemicals or are not produced in environmentally friendly ways. Of course, there ARE alternatives. Here is the rundown.

The most common materials are plastic laminate and solid surface materials. Unfortunately, plastic laminate offgasses formaldehyde from the glue used to make it, and solid surface countertops (such as Corian) are made from plastics and epoxy resins, which are synthetic petrochemicals.

Increasingly, a number of companies are producing solid surfacing products with a green edge to them.

Avonite has a line of countertops which have some recycled content. Their Avonite Surfaces^TM Recycled Collection uses reclaimed surface material, thereby reducing waste.

IceStone is a product that uses recycled glass and concrete. The company states that “McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) awarded Cradle to Cradle™ SILVER Certification to IceStone durable surfaces.”

Paperstone is a product made from recycled paper, and includes a line that uses 100% post-consumer paper in its products. Paperstone is FSC certified, and the company uses a water based resin to manufacture its counter tops. Paperstone is highly durable. It resists heat up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Richlite is another manufacturer that produces paper-based counter tops. Their material is made from pulp derived from certified, managed forests in North America. According to the company, Richlite is committed to reducing its impact on the environment by practicing sound manufacturing processes and producing products with sustainable materials. Richlite is the first company to offer hemp-based countertops, that’s produced from a sustainable resource. Richlite’s hemp counters are made with fast-growing abaca fibers, purchased from the Philippines and Ecuador.

These are just some of the companies that produce eco-friendly counter tops, that are just as functional as traditional ones. In fact, if you were wondering how durable paper-based materials can be, listen to this. The same materials PaperStone and Richlite uses for their products is what’s being used in high performance skate ramps.