Recycled and Renewable Building Products - Features

Re-used Slate Roofing

This slate roof was removed from the high school in Tuxedo Park, NY, and re-used on this house in Wichita Falls, TX, by TileSearch, Inc., a company specializing in matching existing clay tile and slate roofs for use on large new buildings. The re-use of inert materials such as these keeps them out of landfills. TileSearch™, Inc., Roanoke, TX.

Recycled Modular Carpet

Six-year-old carpet (left ) is renewed and redesigned using two updated patterns through Milliken Carpet’s Earth Square™ program. Instead of being landfilled, used modular carpet is shipped to Milliken, where it is renewed through proprietary processes that super-clean, re-texture, and re-style carpets using modern designs. Milliken then ships the carpet back to the facility to be reinstalled and reused. The program has environmental and financial rewards, as the material cost of renewing carpet runs about half the cost of new carpet. Milliken Carpet, Atlanta, GA.

Laminate floors from renewable timber reserves

Some 90% of the materials used to make Traffic Zone and Natural Reflections hardwood floors comes from renewable timber reserves. The manufacturing process utilizes trees, tree branches and wind blown timber. Bruce Laminate Floors, Dallas, TX.

Duct liner with composite airstream surface

Certainteed Toughgard™ duct liner is made from 100% recycled material and is composed of long textile-type glass fibers firmly bonded together with a thermosetting resin. It’s thermal-insulating properties reduce HVAC system operating cost, thereby decreasing energy. Condensation is also controlled, potentially resulting in improved IAQ by reducing unwanted moisture. CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, PA.

Insulation made from 100% recycled newspaper

Cocoon Insulation by Greenstone is made from 100% recycled newspaper products. And, energy requirements for the production of Cocoon cellulose insulation are substantially less than for equivalent amounts of fiberglass or other popular insulation materials. The product is also non-toxic because it contains no fiberglass or asbestos. GreenStone, Bethesda, MD.

Fiberboard panels

CanFibre’s AllGreen(R) MDF is fiberboard made from 100% recovered wood waste. Panels exceed industry standards for strength and screw hold, with moisture resistance and zero incremental formaldehyde emissions. Kafus Environmental Industries, Calabasas, CA.

Recycled rubber tiles

Flex-tuft Rubber Tile from Marley Flexco is an anti-slip flooring made from recycled tires. The product is available in 12x12 and 12x30 inches. Marley Flexco, Tuscumbia, AL.

Insulating material made from post-consumer materials

Celotex Corp. uses recycled materials from multiple sources to produce it’s consumer and commercial products — post-consumer newsprint, recovered steel mill slag, recovered sawdust, recovered wood chips sugar cane by-products, recovered gypsum, and post consumer paper. Celotex Corp., Tampa, FL.

Commercial carpets using pile yarns

Envirelon Commercial carpets are manufactured using pile yarns produced from 100% post consumer P.E.T. solid color broadloom. Carpet tiles are also available. Envirelon, Mequon, WI.

Thermal and acoustical insulation

K-13 is a spray-applied thermal and acoustical insulation that is manufactured from recycled paper products. International Cellulose Corp., Houston, TX.

Linoleum made from natural products

Linosom™ Linoleum from Azrock, the commercial brand of Domco, is a natural product made of cork, wood, linseed oil and jute. The product was used at the Nike Boutique in the Athletes Store in Montreal. Azrock Linosom, Florence, AL.

Rubber playground surface

Bounce Back playground surfaces are shock-absorbing resilient rubber cushions that provide long-term answers to playground safety with ADA accessibility. Bounce Back is designed for six-foot fall protection to CPSC and ASTM standards. The product is performance designed, durable, and made in America from 100% recycled tires. RB Rubber Products are rubber-recycled surface manufacturers since 1985. RB Rubber Products, McMinnville, OR.

Shim made from recycled plastic

EZ-Shim, a wood shim alternative, is a composite made from recycled polystyrene. Earhart Technology, Santa Barbara, CA.

Ceilings made from recycled materials

All Armstrong ceilings are made from recycled materials. Some of the highest performing noise-reducing and light-reflecting ceilings containing up to 70% recycled material. Armstrong also offers a reclamation and recycling program for used ceilings made from renovation projects. Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Lancaster, PA.

BASF Nylon 6ix Fiber

Jonathan Industries styles constructed of BASF Zefron Nylon qualify for BASF’s 6ix again carpet recycling program. This process makes it possible to convert used nylon into pure carprolactam that can be repolymerized into virgin-quality BASF Nylon 6ix Fiber. Jonathan Industries, Dalton, GA.

Modular furniture made from recycled material

Ecowork freestanding modular furniture is made from 98% recycled materials. Work surfaces are made from “ tree free “ wheatbord with a non-toxic, UV finish. Veneers come only from certified harvested forests and wood lots. Acoustic Partitions are made from recycled, compressed newsprint. Table legs and shelf posts are manufactured from recycled craft paper and a water-based, formaldehyde-free glue. Recycled rubber is used in the protective boot for the table legs and the partitions’ edge detail. Studio eg, Oakland, CA .

Biodegradable carpet

Colin Campbell & Sons’ The Natures Carpet backing material is natural jute, a hemp product, strengthened in some runs with unbleached cotton. The secondary backing is also jute, combined with a binding agent which employs only inert chemical compounds. Nature’s carpet is almost 100% biodegradable. Colin Campbell & Sons Ltd., Vancouver, Canada.

Alternative to PVC carpet tile

EcoWork from Shaw Contract is a thermoplastic alternative to PVC carpet tile and roll goods. It is 100% recyclable, 40% lighter in weight than PVC, and extremely low in VOC’s. Shaw Contract Group, Dalton, GA.

Recycled plastic decking

Recycled plastic lumber is a very durable product, ideal for deck railings and docks. The product is made from post-consumer plastics without toxic additives. BJM Industries, Inc., Kittanning, PA.

Natural cork flooring

Natural cork parquet tiles are UV-cured acrylic which does not contain any volatile organic compounds and is hypoallergenic. The cork comes from renewable sources as only the bark of the tree is being used. Trees are never cut down, and the bark grows back to be harvested again after a decade. To protect the cork, Natural Cork Protect Coat is a water-based polish formula. Natural Cork, Augusta, GA.

100% Recycled Rubber/Plastic Roofing

Majestic Skylines presents the Majestic Slate Tile, a 50-year rubber slate tile that is made of 100% recycled industrial rubber and plastic. Injection molded using a special formula that protects the integrity of the rubber, it offers an environmentally friendly, lightweight alternative to slate. Majestic Skylines, Richmond, VA.

Cellulose insulation from recycled paper

Western Fibers manufactures Therm-a-fact Cellulose spray-on insulation using 500 tons of post-consumer kraft-based paper yearly. Collection of cardboard from various large department stores is the source of some of the materials used. Western Fibers Insulation, Inc., Hollis, OK.

Engineered wood products

Willamette’s Classic Gluams™ reduce the need for large-diameter trees and avoid dependence on old-growth resources. Production plants do not use raw logs at all. I-joists are made from laminated veneer lumber and oriented strand board. Laminated veneer lumber plants use the best veneer made at the company’s plywood plants. Remaining veneer is used to make lower-value underlayment and sheathing plywood. Willamette Industries, Inc., Portland, OR.

Recycled glass insulation

Insulation products from Johns Manville Corp. have been verified by Scientific Certification Systems to have a minimum of 25% recycled glass. Johns Manville ComfortTherm batts and rolls generate less dust and itch during installation because of the encapsulated poly-wrapping, which puts a barrier around the fiberglass. Johns Manville Corp., Denver, CO.

Volcanic ceiling

Eurostone’s sculptured look is intrinsic to the material from which it is made, volcanic perlite. This volcanic stone is formed and fired in special kilns at 960 degrees using a special inorganic binder to bond the stone particles together. Because of it’s inorganic nature, it will not support the growth of mold, mildew, or microorganisms. It contains no organic binder to feed bacteria or fungus and no mineral fibers to migrate into the air. Chicago Metallic Corp., Chicago, IL.

Loose-fill fiber

Insul Safe4 is manufactured with 35% recycled post-consumer glass cullet. The product offers better thermal performance, and fewer inches are required to achieve R-values, for example, an R-30 can be achieved by blowing 12 inches versus 12.5 inches of insulation. Insul Safe 4 is noncombustible and noncorrosive to wires and pipes. It contains no harmful chemicals, is odor free, UL listed and Class A rated for fire safety. CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, PA.

Antique Wood Plank Flooring

Aged Woods offers antique wood plank flooring created from Longleaf Yellow Pine timbers rescued from whiskey distillery warehouses built during the Prohibition era. The Whiskey Country™ Heartpine collection is comprised of distinctive, bourbon-aged antique wide plank flooring and accessories.

Recycled plastic lumber

Outwater Plastics Industries stocks environmentally and structurally sound lumber-like products fabricated from 100% recycled plastic materials, which in turn can also be recycled. Outwater Plastic Industries, Inc., Wood-Ridge, NJ.

Certified Wood

FSC-certified CollinsWood(R) offers architects, builders, and consumers a variety of high quality wood products including: hardwood and softwood lumber, plywood, flooring, veneer, and the first certified particleboard in North America.

River-recovered Wood

Wood recovered from river bottoms is available from Goodwin Heart Pine Co. River-Recovered™ is the premiere quality Heart Pine and Heart Cypress. Goodwin guarantees 10% heart and 100% useable solid wood flooring, stair parts, trim, and custom millwork.

Cork floors and walls

Amorim floor and wall coverings are composed of cork-based products that feature natural characteristics such as insulation, thermal and acoustical, resilience, warmth, and respect for nature. Cork is harvested without harming the trees and allowing trees to live for up to 150 years. Brand names include Wicanders and Ipocork.

Recycled Rubber Roofing

Majestic Skylines presents the Majestic Slate Tile, a 50-year rubber slate tile that is made of 100% recycled industrial rubber and plastic. The recycled rubber is molded in the shape of a slate tile featuring a unique tab for installation.

Recycled Tire Flooring

Rop-Cord Tile is made from recycled heavy duty vehicle tires, which provide permanent carpet-like surfaces at indoor or outdoor entrances or other heavy traffic areas. The flooring can be used in recesses or on flat surfaces with a 1/2-inch reducer edging.

Renewable Wall Panels

Enercept SIPS (structural insulated panels) are composed of EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam insulation laminated between OSB (oriented strand board) sheathing. The OSB is derived from short growth, replaceable tree crops. All EPS scrap is recycled for reuse in Enercept panels.

Cellulose Roofing

Ondura™ Corrugated Asphalt Roofing from Nuline Industries is manufactured from 50% post-consumer recycled cellulose. Ondura installs directly over most existing roofing and is available in eight colors and two sizes.

Recycled Insulation

ThermaTech Gold, a product of American Rockwool, is an all natural, ecologically sound product, manufactured from recycled materials that contain no asbestos, formaldehyde, or chemical additives. It will not support moisture, mildew, or fungus, and will not decay, break down, or settle.

Recycled Interior Doors

Interior doors made entirely from certified, recycled, and non-toxic materials are available from Architectural Forest Enterprises. The surface is made of FSC-certified veneer, particle board or wheat straw board, and the substrate is recycled paper and certified maple.