Today CalStar Products unveiled a new Thru-Wall unit which combines the structural properties of standard concrete masonry unit with the look of a traditional brick wall. The units are half as tall as standard concrete blocks but still strong enough to do the job of a brick. Plus, the Thru-Wall unit is made with 40% post-industrial recycled material, fly ash, and comes in several different colors.
Wooden shipping pallets are typically a low-end commodity. Sometimes a pallet will get reused a few times before it ends up being scrapped or used as firewood. But Icelander Högni Stefan Thorgeirsson, owner of Iceland-based Arctic Plank, found a better use for it and produces flooring made from upcycled used pallet wood.
In an economic climate that has companies hunkering down rather than innovating, sustainability leader Kliptech has spent considerable effort making their EcoTop recycled-paper countertops even more environmentally-friendly and affordable. This extremely durable surface material already received plenty of LEED points for its high recycled content — and at $35sq/ft, EcoTop was a pretty good deal.
So why mess with a good thing?
3form — creator and fabricator of modern, eco-friendly surfaces — is in the middle of Greenweek, which is an annual effort to improve environmental performance within the company. So it makes sense that they would introduce a new material made with used paper cuts. Paper Cut is a Varia Ecoresin with at least 40% pre-consumer recycled content; it’s made in 48″ x 96″ sheets of various gauges. Looks fun!
California-based Modwalls now has ModRocks in stock. The product is made with 100% post-consumer recycled glass on a mesh backing. A single interlocking sheet (12″ x 12″) has ~1024 pebbles, each with a diameter of ~0.39 inches. The pebbles come from crushed consumer bottles (no melting required), and ModRocks can be used in residential or commercial applications in both wet and dry areas. One sheet is $25.95.
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