Paperstone Counters
If you are looking for a green product for your countertops, you may look to a product called Paperstone. It is composed primarily of……..paper! I know it is hard to deduct that given the name. Paperstone is made from post consumer recycled paper, water, and phenolic resins. Phenolic resins are treated at high temperatures to create a very durable polymer that has the durability of those high school chem lab countertops. Due to the high heat used in production, the countertops will not emit volatile organic compounds in the form of gas. Only hitch is that it’s not a 100% green product. While it does predominantly use recycled water and paper, the phenolic resins are ultimately derived from oil products. ****Oil yields the chemical benzene, benzene is oxidated to form phenols, then phenols are exposed to formaldehyde to provide the chain reaction that turns it into a hardened polymer (phenolic resin) that can bond the paper/water combo together.** It may not be perfect, but it yields a durable surface using predominantly recycled waste. Price per square foot ranges from $16 per square foot for 3/8″ thick slabs, to $41 for 1 1/4″ thick slabs.