Approved by Subject Editors on September 13, 2004

Reviewed by Cassandra Adams

Their furniture and cabinets are manufactured from bamboo, a quick growing renewable resource. Their glues are typically low-VOC but contact them for special glues for use around chemically sensitive individuals.

Approved by Subject Editors on September 13, 2004

Reviewed by Cassandra Adams

Their furniture and cabinets are manufactured from bamboo, a quick growing renewable resource. Their glues are typically low-VOC but contact them for special glues for use around chemically sensitive individuals.

Approved by Subject Editors on March 23, 2005

Reviewed by Cassandra Adams

These glass tiles are manufactured in a similar manner to conventional products except that energy consumption for the processing of raw materials has been eliminated because they contain 100% recycled glass. However, energy consumption is still greater than some other materials used for flooring and wall-covering. Extraction impacts on natural habitats are also avoided. Glass tiles, whether conventional or green, release no emissions into the indoor environment. Glass tiles are among the best-tolerated by people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory ailments.

Approved by Subject Editors on August 11, 2004

Reviewed by Cassandra Adams

These glass tiles are manufactured in a similar manner to conventional products except that energy consumption for the processing of raw materials has been eliminated because they contain 100% recycled glass. However, energy consumption is still greater than some other products. Extraction impacts are also reduced greatly.

Glass tiles, whether conventional or green, release no emissions into the indoor environment, and their hard surfaces allow them to be thoroughly cleaned with ease. These products are among the best-tolerated by people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory ailments.

Approved by Subject Editors on March 23, 2005

Reviewed by Cassandra Adams

These glass tiles are manufactured in a similar manner to conventional products except that energy consumption for the processing of raw materials has been eliminated because they contain 100% recycled glass. However, energy consumption is still greater than some other materials used for flooring and wall-covering. Extraction impacts on natural habitats are also avoided. Glass tiles, whether conventional or green, release no emissions into the indoor environment. Glass tiles are among the best-tolerated by people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory ailments.

Approved by Subject Editors on August 11, 2004

Reviewed by Cassandra Adams

This stone is extracted in the same way as other stone. The only difference between this stone and conventional products is that it is locally produced (in Raymond, California), so that the energy consumed in its transport is reduced.

Stone releases few, if any, emissions into the indoor environment, and its hard surface allows it to be thoroughly cleaned with ease. Stone products are among the best-tolerated by people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory ailments.

Approved by Subject Editors on August 09, 2005

The Subject Editor review of this product is in process. Please check back.

Approved by Subject Editors on July 22, 2005

Reviewed by Victoria Schomer

Aglaia paints are plant and mineral based, containing no synthetic ingredients. These paint product have that unique more "comfortable" smell of the natural-ingredient-product paints. The flat wall paint is thick - like pudding - and because of its thick consistency, brush application can show the slightest of bush stokes, where roller application is "normal." Drying time is a bit slower. Coverage is excellent and, once dry, has a creamy organic feel and look. The wall paint contains thyme and lavender oil as biocides. The interior lacquer is citrus-based paint, and, on the other hand needs to be applied with two slightly thinner coats because it has no synthetic driers. One added bonus to working with Aglaia products is the transparency of the product information found at the web site, listing every ingredient that all its paint product contain, and explaining what these components are. Priced at about 25% higher than premium low VOC paints.

Approved by Subject Editors on July 22, 2005

Reviewed by Eric Corey Freed

Alkemi is a solid surfacing material made from (a minimum of) 35% post industrial recycled aluminum, set into a polyester resin. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has certified the amount of recycled content and the material is also being tested for off-gassing. It is a beautiful and unique product. While the company touts their product as a green(er) alternative to Corian or Avonite solid surfacing, I think the appearance would make it an alternative for any countertop material.

Alkemi is made of two materials, and each has an environmental impact:

Aluminum: The recycled aluminum is coming straight from industrial warehouses generating scrap aluminum. They get it from everything from "aerospace to household appliance manufacturers." The aluminum is post-industrial, rather than post-consumer because the process of collecting and recycling post-consumer aluminum requires a lot of time and energy.

While the company does not publicly show the chain of custody for the recycled content, they were able to provide one upon request. This diverts scrap material from entering the waste stream, where the aluminum is typically burned and would emit pollutants.

Polymetric Resin: The resin made of a material similar to polyester. It is purchased directly from a resin manufacturer who makes other resins like Corian. The main usage of Polymeric resin is in the eyeglass industry, and Alkemi has not yet begun to use polymeric resin directly generated from recycled eyeglasses, but is looking into it, and hopes to use that in the future.

Resin are toxic, especially in their liquid state, but does not (significantly) off gas in solid form.

One of the byproducts of the manufacturing process of the resin are the dust from sanding and polishing. Alkemi captures and re-circulates this dust into their formula to create one of the opaque resin surfaces in their line.

I would like to see future versions of Alkemi have a much higher recycled content.

Corporate Responsibility: Alkemi is committed to taking back their unused product. They will pay the hipping charges to return the scrap pieces from the installation. They use these scraps for sample materials to send out to designers.

Appearance: The surface is fairly durable and resists heat, but I would not trust a boiling pot on the surface. It can be joined (seamless) and molded as needed. The surface is unique and something you have never seen before. The clients I have been showing it to have been flipping for it, as most people are sick of the typical granite looking counter.

On a final note, there are many companies that claim their products are green purely for marketing reasons. Since every product has both positive and negative environmental qualities, you can expect these claims, but in talking with each company you can tell those who are committed to improving their products, and those simply talking about it. Alkemi is one of the companies truly seeking to improve their product and their practices. From the packaging in which they send their samples, to the paper the brochure is printed upon, their passion for the environment is evident.

Approved by Subject Editors on August 11, 2004

Reviewed by Miriam Landman

Green Seal certified that this product is very-low-VOC and low-toxic.