It’s easy to love recycling whenever the outcome is pure eye candy — such as these eco-friendly tiles. Sustainable tile choices to the kitchen backsplash boil down to 3 chief types: glass, ceramic or metal, all included in part of recycled material.
We create a lot of waste In the United States: 210 million tons annually. Recycled-content tiles are a excellent way to repurpose or”upcycle” waste destined for the landfill. In addition, reuse of materials suggests decreasing the mining of fresh materials. Recycled content can come from 2 sources:
Preconsumer/Postindustrial: This is garbage typically generated in the production of traditional tiles, and sometimes in the production of different products
Postconsumer: This can come from odd sources such as old, inefficient toilets, or from curbside recycling of glass.These handsome kitchen tile backsplashes are evidence that being kind to the environment does not mean sacrificing beauty.
Fiorella Design
Ceramic Tile
Ann Sacks’ Savoy collection (with”Eco-Thinking” products), is made from 21% postindustrial recycled material, such as ceramic waste material from discarded clay and tableware pieces. The elegant Savoy series is broad, affordable and goes easy on the environment.
Cost: $12 to $15 per square foot
Fireclay Tile
Fireclay Tile has been an industry leader in sustainable tile since 1988, once the company changed to lead-free glazes. Its Debris series unites 60 percent recycled material from the postindustrial and postconsumer waste. The tiles are handmade and modeled, which results in a beautiful natural color variation.
Cost: Starting at $24 per square foot
Oceanside Glasstile
Glass Tile
Glass takes a thousand years to fully break down in a landfill, and recycling glass consumes just 30 percent of the energy required to produce it from raw materials.
Virtually all of Oceanside Glasstile’s products contain recycled material, which ranges from 30 to 97% of the tile composition. This kitchen gets handsome use of its Elevations series (in platinum).
Cost: $40 to $70 per square foot
The Sky is the Limit Style
Interstyle includes a diverse recycled glass tile line, such as Icestix, shown in this elegant and airy kitchen palette. Its Agates series consists of 100 percent recycled glass.
Cost: Starting at $33 per square foot
Andre Rothblatt Architecture
Most of the tiles in Ann Sacks’ Profile collection are comprised of recycled material, ranging from 30 percent preconsumer waste to 65% postconsumer recycled bottle glass.
Cost: $40 to $80 per square foot
Fireclay Tile
Crush Recycled Glass Tile
Fireclay Tile’s Crush lineup boasts up to 100 percent recycled content. The product is created in California with independently sourced preconsumer window glass.
Cost: $28 to $70 per square foot
ds design studio
Eco Friendly Flooring Metal Tile
Metal Tile
Aluminum takes 200 to 500 years to fully degrade in a landfill, and recycling aluminum absorbs 95 percent less energy than making aluminum from raw materials.
Engineered aluminum tiles are easier on the environment and add drama to your backsplash, such as these from Eco Friendly Flooring in Wisconsin.
Cost: Starting at $35 per square foot
Jamie Laubhan-Oliver
Recycled metal tiles can combine a luxe overall look and eco-friendly believing in the kitchen. Delicious!
Here are just two closing tips:
Your eco-friendly tile warrants nontoxic grout. Just like most products, look for grout branded low-VOC or no-VOC.
Keep your tile looking great without tons of harsh chemicals. Years ago a sales representative from a boutique tile store shared with me her very best hint: a fall of Dawn in some water. More:
9 Ways Grout Can Enhance Your Style
Get Stone and Ceramic Surfaces Super Clean