You want to make your kitchen eco friendly. You have chosen the recycled flooring, the energy conserving appliances, and now you need countertops that are eco friendly. There are many choices for you on the market. Since being green has come to the forefront of the issues that people worry about, manufacturers have realized that they needed to offer something for those people. Now the options are endless.
There are countertops made of recycled glass, recycled ceramic tiles, recycled aluminum, and other materials that are eco friendly. As long as people want them they will continue to be manufactured for the consumer. The recycled glass countertops are made of recycled bottles, china, and other glass wares. Much of the glass is found in waste water. They are then mixed with cement, resins, or other materials to make a beautiful and durable countertop. These can be made in different styles, colors, and hues to match your kitchen dcor.
Bamboo butcher block countertops are another great option. They are made by made of thin rectangles of the end grain Bamboo Shoots glued into about 1/12 inch thick panels. These are sturdy and hold up well. They come in a few different styles and color hues. Bamboo is a viable replacement for wood, because it is grows quickly, and that makes it a more renewable resource than wood. The glue used in making these countertops is echo friendly and does not put off any gasses that can harm the environment.
Believe it or not recycled paper is used in eco friendly countertops. It is mixed into a resin base. It can be chosen in many different colors and hues. This is heat and stain resistant just as you would expect from any counter surface. The paper comes from recycled paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. There are no petroleum or formaldehyde resins used in this process. Many are made from cashew nut shell liquid.
Another great option is recycled wood. Butcher block counters, some from recycled lumber, others from beautiful but not as well known tree types that have not been harvested as much as the other more common types of trees. Butcher blocks can be crafted from thin lengths or end grain blocks of wood. Using recycled wood decreases the need to cut down new trees. The recycled old lumber frequently has tighter grain and a superior quality. Tree species that are under used can increase the variety of grain and color options, and offer a higher quality of lumber that comes from managed forests.
Aluminum countertops are a great recycled option. They are durable, and they can match with most any dcor. There is easy maintenance with the aluminum countertops. The appliances today are often made with brushed aluminum, and this will fit right in.
These are options that can get you started. Happy hunting and great to be green!