Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2017 - 12

Trends
LEFT BLANCO SOLON collects

waste under the counter and
lifts easily to empty and wash,
while an attractive lid sits atop
the counter and keeps odors
inside. The stainless steel
bin can also be conveniently
installed next to the sink.

BELOW EVOLUTION GLASS

handcrafted this custom
galactic blue recycled glass
tabletop out of 100 percent recycled bottle glass. Evolution
Glass products are stronger
than marble, comparable to
granite and are ideal for kitchen counters, backsplashes
and other work surfaces.

The Mobius LED Mini Pendant
from HUBBARDTON FORGE
uses a light guide as its shade.
The result is a pendant that
has direct down light, with light
diffusing through a curved and
folded LED light guide.

RENEWING AND REUSING
Featuring the highest green
energy ratings in the industry,
ILVE ranges maximize
energy without compromising performance. Similar to
Energy Star ratings in the
U.S, the European EU rating
scored all ILVE ranges an A,
the highest-possible score
for performance and energy
consumption. Shown here is
the new Gloss Black Range
with eight-minute preheat
capability, which will be shown
at KBIS 2018.

Aside from using more efficient appliances and fixtures, there is also a trend
to incorporate recycled materials - particularly in surfaces.
"For countertops and surfaces, recycled glass is certainly becoming
more attractive to people, but it's not necessarily a new trend," said Bill
Hess, founder of Evolution Glass. "In other areas of design, people are
focusing more on reuse by choosing salvaged and reclaimed materials.
These often have more character and charm than products created with
brand new material."
The EPA estimates that 75 percent of American waste is recyclable, but
only 30 percent of that is recycled. Much of that is wood products, many of
which come from slowly diminishing forests. Fortunately, manufacturers are
offering a greener alternative.
"All of our products - flooring, panels, veneers and countertops - are
composed of bamboo, which in itself is a rapidly renewable material that
naturally lends itself to sustainable design and certification," said Alexandra
Zywicki, business development manager at Teragren, explaining that unlike
hardwoods, which take at least 40 years to mature before being harvested,
bamboo can be harvested in less than five years.
FROM FACTORY TO HOME

Waterfall from LEA CERAMICHE - made with natural
slate properties - is part of
the company's PROTECT
Line, which boasts antimicrobial technology. This
protection makes it possible
to block bacteria from living
on the tile surface.

"Consumers want something that tells the whole story," said Ryan Fasan,
technical consultant for Tile of Spain. "From the raw goods that make
up the material to the effective management and disposal in end-of-life
stages, consumers are looking for choices they feel good about making after
careful consideration."
Manufacturers are giving consumers this option by making their products
sustainable from the start and being open about their practices.
"We began changing our production cycles more than 40 years ago and
have evolved continuously ever since,"said Vittorio Borelli, chairman of Confindustria Ceramica with Ceramics of Italy. "We now operate a closed-loop
production cycle in which 100 percent of our production waste and waste
water is recycled, and heat recovery systems are used to improve the energy
performance of our production process."

Like in the Confindustria Ceramica factory,
many manufacturing processes can be reengineered to recycle their waste materials and even
reuse them to create their own power.
"Our factory burns pre-consumer-recycled
sawdust and other bamboo waste to create steam
to power the kilns, drying rooms and hydraulic
presses used for our strand flooring and panels,"
said Zywicki, adding that these practices also create a healthier working environment.
HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY

While factories are growing cleaner and more
efficient, homeowners are also focusing on
how sustainable products can improve their
own well-being.
"Our clients are concerned with the health
impact their design choices have on their families," said Jennifer Jones, principal designer at San
Francisco-based Niche Interiors. "We focus on
indoor air quality when selecting finishes, paints
and furnishings for our clients' homes."
VOCs are a common culprit in the home, as
they are commonly found in glues and solvents
and are often in certain types of countertops and
cabinets. Instead, manufacturers are choosing
to use elements like powder-coat finishes and
phosphate-free cleaners.
"Hygienic or products that do not off-gas, like
fireclay or ceramic, tend to be maintenance free,
healthier or easier to care for,"said Christy Emens,
marketing communications manager for BLANCO. "It's just the right thing to do."
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Kitchen & Bath Business / SEPTEMBER 2017 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2017

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