Sustainable Practices Transform Lives.
Let’s start with the basics. What does it mean to practice sustainability? Living sustainably means we are conscious and responsible about what we consume. What do those decisions look like? Owning an electric vehicle or bike versus a gas vehicle that releases harmful bryproducts into the air. Re-using a stainless steel water bottle instead of plastic bottles that end up in landfills. Shopping at thrift stores to help lower demand for new products; minimizing waste produced.
Waste innovation starts with the idea that breathing life into used items beneifts the environment, the economy, our communities and our well-being. From water bottles, clothes, and utensils to the furniture we sit on and the bridges we drive over – there are sustainable options for each.
Recycled Materials and their Potential Use
| Recycled Material | Potential Use |
|---|---|
| Recycled glass | Countertops |
| Recycled glass/ stone aggregate | Driveways, pathways and sidewalks |
| Wine corks | Ceiling panels and flooring |
| Newspaper | Wood |
| Tree bark | House siding |
| Recycled steel | Pre-fab homes (framing, roofing and structure) |
| Recycled Plastic | Building blocks |
| Used diapers | Roofing tiles |
| Magnesium, sawdust, and fiber cloth | Fire resistent board |
In theory, sustainability is simple but what is the process to repurpose one of the materials listed above? And what are the actual benefits?
The Process of Repurposing
To turn glass bottles into countertops, it starts by soaking the glass in water to remove any attached labels. Following that step, the glass bottles are put into a machine that breaks the glass in to tiny fragments that are the consistency of sand and pebbles. Next the colors are segregated and depending on the desired color, the glass fragments are mixed and poured into a mold where it is blended with apoxy that holds it together.
There are benefits to tranforming material – let’s see how countertops made from recycled glass ranks in terms of how sustainable practices transform lives.
As we can see from the example above, sustainable practices transform lives. There are opportunities to take something used and extend its benefit by breathing life into it by transforming it into something new. These benefts have a positive impact on the economy, environment and communities.
Click here to see how Vittrium Building Products produces countertops made of recycled glass.
Click here to educate yourself on what constitutes as waste and start your sustainable practice journey today!