BCGR - Green Counter Tops
By: Chris Whited, KRBC News
Updated: January 1, 2009
A new discovery could completely throw the idea behind rock, paper, and scissors on its head. A wood company in Washington state says it has found a way to make durable and environmentally friendly kitchen counter tops out of all things... paper. In a community losing its grip on traditional wood products, workers at this plant in are grabbing hold of what could be the next big thing in durable materials. These super hardened slabs are the latest craze for counter tops, tabletops, benches and shelves. Man: "structurally, it's stronger than stone. What kind of material can form such a mighty mass? It's paper.
Paperstone Panel Tech Scott Olmstead says "the paper used to make this product is from recycle bin their office. If this gets wet, nothing happens, water stays on the surface. This is high tech!"
The paper is treated with unique non-petroleum based resin that subjected to a intense pressure and heat in a hydrolic press. The result is chunk of material composed of multiple players, or plies, of paper that has some amazing qualities.
Paperstone, as the company is now being called, is becoming a
cornerstone of this company that is reinventing its self and putting
these blue collar workers into a blossoming green collar career.It's a perfect example of protecting the environment with what mother nature already provides. The cost of a Paperstone counter top is not much less than granite, but unlike granite, it can easily be installed by the do-it-yourselfer with ordinary carpentry tools.
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