4 new eco-conscious countertop and flooring trends for the kitchen

By Katherine Oakes

At Modernize, we like to think that every single material you use in your home counts. Not just to make it beautiful and comfortable for yourself and your loved ones, but also to add value by not harming the ecosystem. And the best part is that eco-friendly kitchen countertops and flooring materials are becoming trendier these days for the reason that they are both affordable and sustainable. So to help you get started on selecting some eco-conscious materials, we rounded up four of the most popular and mindful products we could find.

1) Paperstone countertops

When you first think of countertop materials, paper isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. It’s even more of an unlikely guess when the countertop material is eco-friendly. However, because of how easy it is to reuse and recycle paper material into a completely different and unique form, it’s not all that strange to think of the ways in which it could form your kitchen countertop.

Made of 100% recycled post-consumer materials, Paperstone is a brand that puts this widely used item to good use in its second and possibly even third or fourth life in a permanent home as a non-porous and sturdy countertop. Sheets of paper are stacked together and fused under heat and pressure to create a thick and even stain-resistant surface. This eco-friendly kitchen countertop is just as good as any, as it withstands high heats and is certified “food safe” by NSF, the public health and safety company.

2) IceStone countertops

From paper to ice, it seems as if countertops are getting more and more obscure these days. Don’t allow yourself to be fooled by this high-tech title. IceStone is named for its smooth and icy appearance that closely resembles granite but has the look and feel of a tumbled stone. This brand of high-performance concrete-slabs-turned-countertops is especially unique due to its three core ingredients: 100% recycled glass, Portland cement, and non-toxic pigments. Although the slab may vary in colour depending on its contents, it’s the mystery and, like the paper, its second life that gives it true character along with ultimate safety and sustainability.

3) Bamboo flooring

Among the many different types of talents and uses of bamboo—aside from growing like a weed—it transforms effortlessly into a sustainable hardwood floor. Use an eco-conscious brand such as Nadurra to ensure that you get a formaldehyde-free installation and wood that has been properly manufactured. After it is harvested and then compressed into what resembles a natural wood-grain surface, the look of this particular bamboo flooring mimics any other hardwood floor and is made with a water-based, zero-solvent finish. The bamboo is also extremely durable, which means that it can withstand heavy foot traffic, and it reduces the likelihood of having to repair or replace it after a while. So yes, we are saying it saves you money, time, and your health.

4) Cork flooring

Cork is a surprisingly eco-friendly flooring material that comes in handy if you are a wine lover and in need of a new way to recycle your corks! We’re kidding—well, sort of. Although cork flooring can most certainly be sourced from post-consumer materials, it isn’t exactly the final end of the line for your bottle stoppers. However, you can get pretty close to it by laying it on the ground of your home.

With excellent thermal and even acoustic qualities, cork pulls ahead of the pack because it is hypoallergenic, sturdy, and even fire and insect-resistant. Certain brands are involved in using recycled materials to create their product, but the overall process of extracting raw cork from trees is virtually a harmless process. It also takes much less energy and raw materials to manufacture the flooring, so it will continue to be a sustainable product.

Need another bright side to using cork? Because cork naturally absorbs excess CO2 from the atmosphere by installing it in your home, it actively contributes to lessening harmful greenhouse gases. So, what did your floor to do help the planet today?