A counter top is a flat work surface in kitchens & food preparation areas. Commonly, cabinets are installed above and below. A counter top can be made from several different materials, such as stone, to wood, to plastic, to tiles, & even steel, among many others.
But because of the growing awareness for the environment, there are now materials for counter tops that are not only durable, but also great looking & eco friendly. So if you’re searching for a new counter top and are leaning towards materials that are a little kinder on the environment than laminate or stone, there are now plenty of options available that are made from recycled products, can be recycled at end-of-life — or are both recycled and recyclable — or are made from renewable resources.
Here are some of the greener counter top alternatives:
1. Stainless steel – On the average, Stainless steel counter tops consist of 75% recycled steel & can contain up to 100% recycled content. They emit no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are non-porous and antibacterial. However, they do show fingerprints & scratch easily.
2. Recycled glass – There are many recycled glass counter tops on the market nowadays. Each kind has their own special charm.
3. BioGlass – This material is of 100% recyclable and recycled glass. It is available in 6 natural colors and can be used for backsplashes or counter tops.
4. Alkemi – Alkemi counter tops are made from 35% “fine flake aluminum milling scrap” a post-industrial waste products. You can choose from 3 different surface treatments (textured, classic and honed) and twelve colors.
5. Paperstone – Paperstone counter tops are created from either 100% post-consumer office paper or 100% post-consumer cardboard integrated with a non-petroleum based resin. It can be used for as kitchen & bathroom counter tops and comes in a variety of colours.
6. IceStone – This is made in
