Just discovered this four inch thick glass countertop from ThinkGlass.com, a Canadian glass design and manufacturing company – absolutely stunning!

There are three main types of environmentally friendly countertops:

• sustainable woods and grasses (bamboo)
• countertops made from recycled materials (glass or recycled aluminum)
• paper and resin composites

Bamboo Countertops

Bamboo, which is extremely fast-growing, is really a grass, and harvested again and again from the same plant and can shoot up as much as a foot per day. Bamboo countertops are constructed from sheets of bamboo plywood. Multiple sheets can be glued together to create thicker countertops. Another important eco friendly aspect is avoiding varnishes and sealants containing volatile organic compounds (VOC) and adhesives that are formaldehyde free.

Bamboo countertops are available in variety of grain patterns including flat grain, end grain or parquet end grain. They can be resurfaced by re-sanding; an eco friendly, food safe finish is required.

Recycled Glass Countertops

Recycled Glass Countertops are made from a blend of primarily recycled glass mixed with concrete/cement pigments, other recycled materials and environmentally friendly resins. Approximately 70% to 85% of the product is recycled content.

• They are extremely durable
• They are heat, cold, scratch and stain resistant Their non-porous surface makes it very easy to clean
• Available in a wide variety of colors
• Each piece is unique and exquisite
• Recycled glass is extremely versatile: you can get matching backsplash and floor tiles.

Recycled Paper Countertops

Recycled paper countertops are a solid surface material created by saturating panels made from post-consumer waste paper with petroleum free resin under heat and heavy pressure. Recycled paper panels have been used for years in industrial and marine applications, while also being the surface of choice for skateboard parks.

• Look and feel like stone
• Recycled paper countertops are extremely strong and durable compared to traditional countertop materials
• Manufacturing process uses less energy than traditional countertops
• Finishes are formaldehyde free.

A common question for us at DreamMaker is “What is the best countertop to use these days?”  We understand the question; technology changes the options and trends tend to change our style.  But we always reply, “The answer is as individual as you are.”  How you use the countertop, how you want (or don’t want) to keep it up, how long you expect it to last, your budget, your perception of “green” materials, the style of your home and your personal style…these are just some of the things that will give you your answer.

Here are a few different countertops in our portfolio of projects.

Quartz: Caesarstone

Quartz: Cambria

Stone: Granite

Stone: Marble

Stone: Soapstone

Wood

End Grain Wood

Glass

Stainless Steel

Paper

Solid Surface

Plastic Laminate

This design was created by Italian company AR-TRE. They have combined glass, teak, stainless and high gloss white finishes to convey a luxurious yachting feel.

While the island is spectacular, I’d rather keep my boat in the water for outdoor use. Would you want this is your home?

This is a solid slab material that is made with recycled glass.  There are a few other products on the market that are also made with recycled glass.  One of our favorites is a product called Ice Stone.  Visually, the biggest difference between Vetrazzo and Ice Stone is that the peices of glass are larger and more plentiful in Vetrazzo.  So if you really like the look of the recycled glass, then this might be the product for you.

Vetrazzo is manufactured locally in the US in the Bay Area and most of it’s glass comes from curbside recycling programs, with the remainer coming from stoneware, reclaimed glass from building construction, traffic lights, etc.  When you purchase a slab, you even get a certificate of transformation which tells you exactly where the glass came from.

It is similar to granite in that it is heat and scratch resistant.  And unlike granite it can be easily repaired if you chip it and save the piece of chipped glass.

Price-wise, it costs more than granite however this is truly an area where you get what you pay for.  Vetrazzo is durable, has a high end look, vibrant and best of all green.

Bio-Glass^TMsolid surfacing for countertops, walls, floors, and other applications is made from 100% recycled glass, heated and
agglomerated under pressure. There are no binders, colorants, fillers, or other admixtures.  Depending on color, the product is either pre or post-consumer, or a blend. The translucent, nonporous material is available as 110-inch by 47-inch slabs, about 4.7 inches thick with a lightly textured, slip-resistant surface; smooth surfaced slabs are also available, approximately 4 inches thick. The product is currently available in white and light green, with blue, brown, and dark green to follow.  This product will contribute to LEED Credit - MR Credit 4 – Recycled Content. 

It is made from only recycled colored glass.  Most products that reuse the recycled glass also use an epoxy to bind the glass.  This product is different.

The old glass is sorted by color and re-fired to just the right temperature and pressure.  The end result is stunning.  The ground polished edge revels the evoking layers of each piece’s former life.  The top is nicely surfaced, the brown glass reminds me of a leather texture, those are from beer bottle.  The green is from red wine bottles and so on.

The cost ranges from $85 – $125 per sf.  This is not cheap but comparable to a nice marble.  So instead of ripping a slab of marble from the earth consider this product for a stunning covering.

The ThinkGlass glass countertop display at countertopmatrix has been seen by thousands of people and their reaction was unanimous, astounding!

Glass countertops have an amazing luxury appeal that is very distinct from common materials, such as granite or engineered stone. Since glass is the least porous material, glass countertops are the most hygienic countertops on the market.

As with any countertop material, glass can scratch, but the texture underneath masks common wear and allows scratches to go unnoticed.

It also give an ice look to the whole countertops.for more information go the countertop matrix.