subject: The Best Recycled Stone for Sustainable Design [print this page] There's a lot of talk about sustainable design these days, and a whole lot of innovation and creativity driving the face of green building materials. This is great news for the shameless tree-huggers and nature enthusiastsand great news for the common consumer, because these materials are increasingly becoming cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing. It would seem that not only is green, well, greener, but it is becoming more unique and competitive with standard building materials for flooring, surfaces, structure, and even ceilings. This is certainly the case for recycled stone as well, and here is an introduction to some of the greatest sustainable applications for using stone in building design.
EnviroMODE
This incredible surface choice uses broken up porcelain sinks, toilets, and bathtubs to create an incredibly unique terrazzo that is perfect for kitchen or bathroom counters. The company allows you to choose the color of resin, and the color of the porcelain pieces remain in their classic bone-colored integrity.
Stone Remnants
Covering a wide scope of stoneincluding granite, marble, soapstone, limestone, as well as many othersstone remnants are really just that: leftover stone. Many fabricators and contractors end up with leftover stone from various building projects or sales, and can use those bits and pieces left for a variety of different applications. This recycled stone can be used for coffee tables, end tables, stepping stones, bathroom counters, and many other projects.
Terrazzo
As EnviroMODE takes recycled bathroom essentials and turns them into beautiful works of art, terrazzo is a very similar applicationtaking bits of marble and other stone and mixing it with concrete or epoxy to create a beautiful, speckled surface. Stone remnants could easily be applied to create terrazzo, and looks at home in many residential and corporate locations.
These are obviously not the only great recycled stone choices, but certainly are a good representation of what is possible. Only the future can tell what new innovations and creative solutions to waste will grace our floors, counters, and shelves. It is a welcome addition.
