Eco-Friendly Fabrication: Sustainable Products for Your Shop

By Sarah Peiper

Sustainability is at the forefront of nearly every conversation around design and remodeling, and you’re behind the times if you aren’t considering integrating sustainability in your business. The betterment of our communities and the health of our environment depend on every business, no matter how big or how small, taking responsibility for how they work and contributing to a better planet. There are all kinds of materials, tools and solutions for the decorative surfacing industry that can help you embrace sustainable products and practices. Here are 15 innovations to consider for your shop.

BACA Systems’ PURE Water Filtration System

PURE is a water filtration system that removes stone particulate, so gray water can be recycled and reused in cutting. PURE Systems are available in varying sizes to meet the shop’s needs, filtering from 80 gpm to 320 gpm.

The PURE System pumps dirty water from a collection pit by a heavy-duty, sealless pump to a centrifugal separator, where solids are filtered to 40 micron. The water is further filtered to approximately 10 micron through a series of hydrocyclones. Solids are collected in a sludge hopper and settling weir, both of which are lined with removable bags for easy disposal. The filtered water enters a holding tank before a horizontal pump delivers the water back to the shop at 75 psi. Additional features can be added to the PURE System. Learn more at www.bacasystems.com/baca-pure.

Corian Design — A Responsible Choice

Corian Design offers a wide portfolio of beautiful, on-trend designs that are harmonious with human health and the environment. The company is innovating to reduce waste and incorporate postconsumer and post-industrial recycled content. The Corian Solid Surface portfolio includes a variety of high-recycled content aesthetics, including the new Terrians collection. Corian Endura High Performance Porcelain is made from 100% natural minerals and clays. The North American manufacturing facilities are zero waste, and electricity comes from renewable energy sources.

Corian surfaces are GREENGUARD Gold certified and contribute toward LEED points. In alignment with the AIA Materials, they’re NSF certified, UL certified as mold-resistant and do not contain BPA. A low-VOC material, Corian is free from dangerous chemicals, which supports better indoor air quality. The Corian Design portfolio allows for beautiful and safe interiors with sustainability as a top priority. To learn more, visit www.corian.com.

Durasein Solid Surface

Diamond is Durasein’s newest addition to their marble-inspired Dreamy Collection. From unique color blends to mesmerizing visual textures, Durasein patterns are magically crafted with the help of their proprietary robotic color dispensing tech to create a surfacing product that provides both elegance and performance.

From air quality to food safety, Durasein is engineered to maintain a safer environment for human health.

With concerns that prolonged exposure to nanoparticles may lead to health issues, it’s also reassuring to know that Durasein solid surfaces are free from nanoparticles. With zero emissions, Durasein’s material and the cured adhesive used in installation are 100% free of formaldehyde and volatile organic compound emissions. In addition to GREENGUARD, GREENGUARD Gold Indoor Air Quality, HPD and REACH certifications, Durasein surfaces are also NSF-51 certified to ensure that they are safe for food equipment and food contact.

Durasein’s solid surfaces have also been tested to meet and/or exceed the requirements for industry standards, including ASTM, ANSI, UL and NEMA. It’s undergone strict stain and chemical resistance testing in accordance with CSA B45.5-17/IAPMO Z124-2017, and EN ISO 16000-9 testing to show that there are no traces of harmful substances in the products. Learn more at www.durasein.com.

Durat Sustainable Solid Surface

Durat has always strived to limit their impact on the environment through the concept of circularity, designing material with the intention of being reused and recycled. Durat consists of up to 28% recycled hard plastics diverted from the waste stream and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life through Durat’s takeback program. The material originated in Finland but is also made in the USA. The company also recently invested in an Environmental Product Declaration, which is available to the public. One of the most amazing aspects of Durat is the nearly endless color choices available. Durat is not only a more sustainable choice but is also easy to work with, maintainable and nonporous. For more information about Durat or to request a sample, visit www.caragreen.com/durat.

EGGER’s Thermally Fused Laminate

EGGER’s thermally fused laminate (TFL) panels are naturally sustainable thanks to their ability to store carbon, the renewable resources used as a raw material and the circular production processes used to manufacture them. According to the Composite Panel Association, composite wood panels store as much or more carbon than is released during the manufacturing process, making them carbon negative or carbon neutral.

EGGER values wood as a natural resource and is committed to optimizing its gray to bright yellow and lime green. The heavy collection features similar colors of semi-translucent acrylic with flecks and pieces of recycled metal within. The result is a dazzling assortment of silver, gold and choices available. Durat is not only a more sustainable choice but is also easy to work with, maintainable and nonporous. For more information about Durat or to request a sample, visit www.caragreen.com/durat. use. Particleboard and TFL panels produced at the company’s Lexington, North Carolina, plant are made primarily using what would otherwise be considered waste or recovered wood — wood chips left over from other milling and manufacturing processes. About 70% of the wood in EGGER’s composite panels comes from these sources. With the addition of a brand-new on-site wood recycling center, these boards will also now be produced with up to 20% post-consumer recycled wood material. See all of what EGGER has to offer at www.egger.com.

elementAl Recycled Solid Surface

elementAl is a unique solid surface material made of recycled hard plastics from the post-industrial waste stream. There are two styles of surface: light and heavy. The light collection is made up of semitranslucent colors ranging from traditional copper speckling the surface. All elementAl sheets are manufactured in Buffalo, New York, where it is made to order, allowing for customization. The material is great for backlighting, thermoforming and furniture, in addition to traditional vertical and horizontal surfacing applications. For more information visit www.caragreen.com/brands/elemental/.

GEOS Recycled Glass Surfaces

With a carefully chosen terrazzo-style mix of pre- and post-consumer recycled glass, GEOS is a unique surface of superior strength and remarkable beauty. GEOS is a nonporous, durable recycled glass surface that performs, fabricates and installs like engineered stone or terrazzo. Combined with proprietary resin binders, GEOS Recycled Glass Surfaces do not require sealing. GEOS Surfaces are available in several unique color combinations and are suitable for both commercial and residential applications looking for a terrazzo countertop look and a sustainable story. For samples or more information visit www.caragreen.com/brands/geos/.

Gilasi Recycled Glass Surfaces

Gilasi is an innovative surfacing manufacturer located in Chicago. The surfaces are made of recycled glass and epoxy resin and were carefully engineered for superior performance. Gilasi is unique in that much of the glass in their material is sourced locally from industrial waste streams in and around Chicago. The company strives to do their best for the environment by purchasing carbon offsets for all its production energy consumption and employee commuting. Gilasi offers two standard lines of nonporous solid surface: one with large glass aggregate that creates a terrazzo aesthetic, and one with very tiny glass aggregate that creates a monochromatic look. In addition to the 20 standard colors, Gilasi can create custom recycled glass surfaces, allowing customers to specify the colors and sizes of glass used. For samples or more information visit www.gilasi.com/gilasi-is-green/.

glass2 Recycled Glass Surfaces

glass2 was engineered to be nearly 100% recycled glass while remaining durable and easy to fabricate. The resulting surface is made of 99% recycled glass fused together, requiring no resins or binders. It is suitable for interior and exterior applications for both residential and commercial use. It can be fabricated by both stone and glass fabricators. Since it is all glass, it is a great material for creating backlighting effects. glass2 allows you to create a stunning visual experience and tell a sustainable story with countertops, columns or cladding. For samples or more information visit www.caragreen.com/brands/glass2/.

Hanex Solid Surfaces by Hyundai L&C USA: Eco-Friendly Manufacturing Process

In interior design, sustainability is crucial in making spaces aesthetically pleasing and practical. With growing environmental awareness, Hanex Solid Surfaces continues its journey toward sustainability and an eco-friendly manufacturing process. Through a keen focus on waste reduction and efficiency, production practices ensure minimal wastage. Moreover, 100% recycled water-based manufacturing processes are in place, allowing Hanex to refrain from releasing harmful volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.

The company’s sustainability journey continues with a focus on transportation. Hanex strategically minimizes transportation distances between various production stages. By sourcing materials and manufacturing products closer to each other, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance transportation are significantly reduced.

Hanex is deeply committed to ecofriendliness, influencing everything from its composition to production practices. To learn more about the sustainability of Hanex, visit www.hyundailncusa.com/blog/Hanex-SolidSurface-Where-Sustainability-Meets-EcoFriendliness.

HydroClear Pro by Park Industries = Big Time Savings

Reduce your water consumption by over 90% and be an environmental steward with the new HydroClear Pro Water Recycling System from Park Industries. This system manages high water demands by recycling water at a sustained flow of 325 gallons per minute.

The HydroClear Pro offers a variety of unique systems to minimize operational costs and increase efficiencies, including:

• Mechanical Pit Stir system to eliminate the need to clean out the pit.

• Automated chemical dosing system for easy management.

• VFD-driven slurry pumps to provide increased performance, longevity and water quality.

Here’s what one fabricator had to say about the system: “We love the ability to recycle and know where our water is going. We’ve saved millions of gallons of water with the HydroClear Pro and cut our water bill in half.” Park Industries offers seven unique HydroClear Pro systems to meet your needs. Learn more at www.parkindustries.com/water-systems/hydroclear-400.

Lapitec Silica-Free Surfacing

As a company, Lapitec is committed to sustainability and quality. They remain at the forefront of innovation in surfacing. As the only true sintered stone, Lapitec has created a truly phenomenal product using a proprietary mix of minerals that eliminates the need for crystalline silica. The Italian facility where all Lapitec is made is covered in solar panels to supply energy for the production process. The company has taken action toward product transparency by investing in a life cycle analysis and Environmental Product Declaration. Sintered stone is 100% natural by design, incredibly durable and versatile. It can be used indoors or outdoors as it is highly heat- and stain-resistant. Learn more about Lapitec’s products and commitment to the environment by visiting www.lapitec.com/en.

LT-2D3D by Laser Products Industries (LPI)

Practice sustainability by going digital with the LT-2D3D from LPI. Eliminate waste from used wood, paper, or plastic templates and go paperless by creating digital template files. Did you know that many wood templates cannot be recycled due to glue and adhesives? Get more usage out of slabs with the accuracy of digital templating and nesting capabilities to reduce landfill waste and prevent costly reworks and in-field modifications.

With a digital templator, you can reduce gas consumption, emissions and your company’s overall carbon footprint by minimizing the need to travel back and forth between job sites and the shop, and by emailing files back to the shop or uploading files to cloud storage. You can downsize to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars with the compact nature of the LT-2D3D and eliminate large physical templates, supplies and tools.

To learn more about the LT-2D3D Laser Templator and its environmental benefits, please visit www.laserproductsus.com.

PaperStone Recycled Paper Composite

PaperStone is exactly what it sounds like: stone made of paper. This incredible material takes recycled paper materials, soaks them in proprietary phenolic resins and presses them into durable stonelike sheets. The sheets are highly durable and easy to cut and shape. PaperStone is a favorite because it can be handled as easily as wood. PaperStone offers a warm alternative to stone and quartz, and is a great choice for homes, restaurants, office buildings and education facilities. All PaperStone material is manufactured in Hoquiam, Washington, making it a great local resource for projects in the United States. Learn more about PaperStone’s product options at www.paperstoneproducts.com.

Silestone by Cosentino

HybriQ+ Technology for the manufacturing of Silestone is a true testament to Cosentino’s commitment to sustainability and taking care of the present to protect the future. HybriQ+ Technology is a high-performance blend of premium minerals, quartz and recycled materials produced with 100% renewable electric energy and 99% recycled water. HybriQ+ is the result of four years of research and development, and it represents a $12+ million investment and 1,200 hours of laboratory and facility testing.

“At Cosentino, I believe we must strive to uphold our core values of innovation and sustainability with each product we put forward,” said Valentin Tijeras, product, innovation and quality vice president at Cosentino. “We’re proud to be able to continue to manufacture our Silestone collections sustainably.”

Silestone sets a new standard for the industry, propelling us toward a more sustainable future. Learn more at www.cosentino.com/usa/silestone/hybriqtechnology.