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Best recycled glass countertops for eco friendly kitchens and more

recycled glass countertops

There are certain materials like broken glass, which are very hard to use as building materials. Nevertheless, there are certain specific ways, which can help us utilize it no matter in how bad condition it is. One such way is using recycled glass countertops.

Why recycling?

recycling In a world where construction materials are becoming ever so scarce, what would be better than opting for recycled construction materials? Creating something out of waste kills two birds with one stone. It not only helps us save money, in addition, it also helps us save the environment.

Recycling is now more important than it ever was. The ever-increasing waste piles are a threat to the environment and designers are coming up with smart ideas to give a new lease of life to thrown away materials.

10 – Best recycled glass countertops for eco-friendly kitchens

We dumb a lot of glass, in the form of bottles each year. How about turning this thrash glass into more useful products like a kitchen countertop? These recycled glass countertops are a perfect replacement for granite and natural stone. It is a must have for those wanting to go green with their kitchen. These come smothered with eco-friendliness and will create a stunning focal point to your kitchen.

1. Vetrazzo Countertops

Vetrazzo Countertops is a product by Vetrazzo, LLC from Richmond, California. These countertops come caked in eco-friendliness and have been crafted using salvaged glass, which is taken from various post industrial and post consumer sources. No polymers or resins were used during the production process to manufacture these kitchen countertops. The slabs have a full size with a thickness of 1 ¼ inch.

2. Icestone recycled glass countertops

If you have an eco-friendly soul, then the Icestone recycled glass counterpart is a must for your kitchen. The VOC free and durable countertop has managed to get the McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry’s Cradle to Cradle certification. This countertop utilizes glass from waste streams in a fashionable way. The heat resistant countertops are available in a variety of colors and are as strong as granite.

3. Gilasi recycled glass countertops

To give kitchen countertops a touch of clean and green traits,here is Gilasi. They have come up with attention-grabbing countertops. These constitute of locally recycled glass and other sustainable materials that don’t have any VOCs. The texture is distinct and looks appealing.

4. EnviroGLAS recycled glass countertops

EnviroGLAS recycled glass countertops will enliven your kitchen with their colorful nature. These are aesthetically pleasing and indeed strong. The countertops come into form by mixing colored glass with cement, resin base or concrete. The glass used in this case comes from waste sources. At times, you mix fly ash with cement. It is a waste product that results when we burn coal. All this makes the design environmentally friendly and in turn brings down the manufacturing cost and lowers the greenhouse gas production.

5. Trinity recycled glass countertops

Trinity recycled glass countertops have been produced by Tiger Mountain Innovations in Seattle, Washington. The earth-friendly product has a lot of versatility and is handcrafted. It is easy to maintain and has been made from 75 percent salvaged glass mixed with low carbon cement. It is scratch resistant and also heat resistant. Trinity has a natural stone facade and is available in six shades.

6. WF Decor recycled glass countertops

WF Decor recycled glass countertops are not gaudy or overstated. They will be perfect for both traditional as well as contemporary interiors. They consist of 100 percent recycled glass and don’t require extensive maintenance. Furthermore, the best part is that these countertops won’t have any negative impact over the environment, which is worth applauding.

7. Glass Recycled: recycled glass countertops

Glass Recycled, a company owned by Tim Whaley, upcycles glass and uses it to make beautiful glass tops, which otherwise would have piled up in dump yards. The recycled glass countertops are brought to life by mixing crushed glass with epoxy resin. This gives birth to awe amazing terrazzo designs, which makes the countertops look all the more sumptuous.

8. Urban Slabs recycled glass countertops

Urban Slabs recycled glass countertops are an innovative and eco friendly solution for your kitchen interiors. The sustainable countertops comprise of 100 percent recycled glass, which is mixed with cement matrix. These are light weight and have a thickness of 3/4 inches, which is a result of cement mixers that has no resinous binders. These are easy to transport and will prove to be a great alternative.

9. Resilica – recycled glass countertops

Resilica recycled glass countertops consist of 100 percent salvaged glass waste. You can customize them as per a buyer’s whims and fancies. Moreover, you can make them in just any color combination. This gives it an altogether different sparkle. Thereafter you mix this glass with a solvent-free resin system. Later, you further polish it for a smooth and clean look. These eco-friendly worktops will help maintain proper hygiene and since they are hard wearing they will last long.

10. JW Smith Masonry Countertop

JW Smith Masonry countertops are downright good looking and will prove to be an ideal surface for your kitchen. The glass used in this case comes from commercial and household waste. Moreover, you can modify the size and thickness of your exact design specifications. JW Smith Masonry countertops are a fine example, which re-utilize waste to make new designs.

Some more alternative countertop ideas

1. Bamboo countertops

Bamboo countertop

One of the most efficient greener alternatives of concrete counter-tops is bamboo counter-top. Bamboo can serve as one of the best materials for counter-tops because of its durability and sustainability and it is renewable too. Various brands have come up with bamboo counter-tops sans formaldehyde adhesives hence making the counter-tops non-carcinogenic. Environment-friendly and renewable, bamboo counter-tops come in a lot of varieties, styles and textures and are just perfect to up the glam quotient of your kitchen in the green way.

2. 100 percent HDPE surface counter-tops by 3Form

100 percent HDPE surface countertop

This green kitchen counter-top consists of plastic from landfills. In addition, it is popular as HDPE or high-density polyethylene. 3Form has come up with such counter-tops made from 100 percent recycled plastic waste. A single sided product with a sandstone finish on the front, these counter-tops from 3Form comes in four colors. The 100 percent HDPE surface counter-tops are perfect for a contemporary green kitchen and count high on durability and cost-effectiveness.

3. Paperstone counter-tops

Paperstone kitchen countertop

These green counter-tops are made from 100 percent recycled paper waste and a resin base and are as tough as stone. To make them completely Eco-friendly, the resin base that is used is free of formaldehyde and petroleum. Besides being durable and cost-effective, paperstone counter-tops are also heat and stain resistant and on this point they score much higher than concrete counter-tops which are prone to getting etched and stained. Another plus point of paperstone counter-tops is that the surface prevents the growth of bacteria thus making your kitchen healthy as well. Paperstone counter-tops come in various color palettes to choose from.

4. EnviroGlas recycled counter-tops

EnviroGlas recycled countertop

EnviroGlas recycled kitchen counter-tops are made of recycled glass using variant concrete colorants and are converted to some eclectic greener counter-tops. These counter-tops do not emit any toxic gases and the usage of recycled glass and porcelain makes them completely environment-friendly. Also the scratch-free property of these counter-tops redefine their sustainability.

5. Reclaimed wood counter-tops

Reclaimed wood countertop

Reclaimed wood counter-tops can be one of the cost-effective Eco-friendly alternatives of concrete counter-tops in the kitchen. These reclaimed wood counter-tops come in various colors and are made from wood that would have seen inclusion in the wastes. However, wood in any form is not water-resistant and although these counter-tops are processed and waxed to meet expectations in cases of general spilling of coffee, water, vinegar, wine, etc. It is normally suggested that these counter-tops should not be installed near sinks and wash basins to avoid permanent damage. However, it is claimed that if damage occurs, they are easily reparable.

6. Suberra Cork counter-tops

Suberra Cork Countertops

Suberra Cork counter-tops are environment-friendly, highly durable and sustainable counter-tops that are made from the bark of cork oak trees. These counter-tops are heat and water-resistant and have an anti-microbial property which makes them extremely fit for kitchen use. Suberra contains 100 percent renewable carbon and no added formaldehyde LEED points. It is lightweight and quite easy to install.

7. BottleStone counter-tops

BottleStone Countertops

BottleStone counter-tops are made of 80 percent recycled glass, specially bits of broken glass bottles and ceramic binders. These counter-tops are heat, scratch and stain-resistant unlike other stone slabs. These are available in five colors and generally come in 1 inch slab thickness. They cost around $68/sq.ft. and do not contain any volatile organic compounds or VOC that are found in varnishes and sealants. Great in looks, BottleStone counter-tops can definitely add style and green to your kitchen.

8. Durapalm counter-tops

Durapalm kitchen countertops

Durapalm counter-tops are effective green alternatives of concrete counter-tops. These counter-tops are made from old and infertile coconut palms. This wood is stronger than oak and costs around $23 /sq.ft. They are free of urea formaldehyde and the adhesives used for these counter-tops are VOC-free. However, you will have to take care of these counter-tops like other wooden counter-tops.

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