Clare Delaney - EcoFriendlyLink · 2015-05-25 · Clare Delaney – EcoFriendlyLink.com Page 3...

Clare Delaney - EcoFriendlyLink.com

Clare Delaney – EcoFriendlyLink.com

Table of Contents:

Don’t Forget The Walls! .......................................................................................................................... 3

Tiles ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

How To Make Tiles Even More Eco Friendly ....................................................................................... 5

Other Types of Tiles ............................................................................................................................ 6

And Another Benefit of Recycled Tiles................................................................................................ 6

Wood ....................................................................................................................................................... 7

Are MDF and Particle Board Eco Friendly? ......................................................................................... 7

Cork ......................................................................................................................................................... 9

What To Look Out For With Cork ...................................................................................................... 10

Wallpaper .............................................................................................................................................. 11

Grasscloth ............................................................................................................................................. 12

Paperweave .......................................................................................................................................... 14

Silk ......................................................................................................................................................... 15

Paint ...................................................................................................................................................... 16

Low or Zero VOC Paints .................................................................................................................... 16

Water / Emulsion or Oil-Based Paint? .............................................................................................. 16

Brick ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

How to Make Bricks More Eco Friendly ............................................................................................ 17

Final Thoughts ....................................................................................................................................... 18

Disclaimer:

All content provided in this Report is for informational purposes only. I make no representations as to the

accuracy or completeness of any information in this report or found by following any link.

I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information, nor

for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.


Don’t Forget The Walls!

You want your kitchen to be green and eco friendly – after all, it’s the heart of home.

Plus, it’s where you do all your food preparation, so it makes sense to avoid toxic chemicals in this

area.

What’s on the walls of your current kitchen?

If it’s painted, the paint may contain VOCs (volatile organic

compounds - toxic vapours emitted from solvents, paint, glue,

and adhesives) which are harmful to our health. Older paints

also used to contain lead (see here for how to find out if you

have lead-based paint in your home)

http://www.webmd.com/women/home-health-and-safety-

9/lead-paint.

If you’ve got wallpaper, the adhesives frequently contain formaldehyde and chemical toxins that,

over time, emit VOCs.

Some of the negative health effects from toxins include:

Dizziness

Nausea

Impaired memory or vision

Respiratory illness

Chronic headaches

But thankfully today, you have many other options for green and eco friendly kitchen wall coverings.

As many homeowners and new parents are beginning to

understand, what you put on your walls may be what you

and your little ones will breathe in over the decades as

you enjoy your home.

Let’s look at some cool ideas.

Later, I’ll look at grasscloth, paperweave and more.

But first, let’s look at a common kitchen wall covering –

tiles.


Tiles

Most tile companies will tell you that tiles are green, eco friendly and natural.

The trouble is, you need to take that statement with a big pinch of salt.

Yes, it’s true that most tiles are “natural”.

But natural doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for the environment. (Natural is not always good for

you either – arsenic is natural).

Many tiles are made from clay, which is

fairly common, but it’s not renewable.

What we take out of the ground is not

replaced or re-grown. It’s the same story

with granite or marble – once it’s removed

from the mountain, it’s gone.

The manufacturing process for most tiles

involves extremely high heat, which uses a

lot of energy and generates significant

emissions.

And most tiles are heavy, so their

transportation is not eco friendly.

Having said that, there are some very good points about using tiles as an eco friendly kitchen wall

covering. What’s more, when you know what to ask for, you can make sure that your tiles are as

green as possible.

Here’s what’s good about tiles:

1. They are durable. They last a long time – often up to

50 years or more if they’re installed correctly and

properly maintained. This means you won’t use

more resources buying new replacements, and you

don’t need to consider the manufacturing,

transportation, installation, demolition and disposal

of new materials.

2. Most tiles will survive fire and floods. Most tiles are

colour-fast and don’t fade. Again, this means you

don’t need to replace them.

2 Kitchen with tile wall covering / splashback. Credit: afreakatheart.blogspot.com

1Kitchen with tile wall covering / splashback.

Credit: Sinerkan.com


3. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are made from materials which are normally sourced close to

the factories, thus reducing fuel consumption and transportation emissions.

4. And most tiles don’t absorb or emit pollutants. If you use the correct grout in between the

tiles, they will inhibit the growth of mould, mildew, fungus and viruses, letting you breathe

easier.

5. The majority of tiles are very easy to keep clean, and don’t need toxic chemicals to keep

them clean. That’s very important in an eco friendly kitchen!

How To Make Tiles Even More Eco Friendly

Now that you know not to be fooled by the “natural” statements of tile companies, there are also

ways that you can make sure that the tiles you buy are even more green and eco friendly.

Tile manufacturers can actually do a LOT to

improve how they make tiles – and they save

money and help the environment in the

process. Here are some examples.

Many tile manufacturers are making tiles with a

percentage of recycled materials. Again, this

seems good – but if all they’re doing is putting

in a small percentage of recycled materials,

they’re probably just using some of their own

waste. Which is good – but I think they could do

more.

Using recycled ingredients in tiles is good because it reduces energy use - making a product from

waste material typically requires less energy than fabricating one from raw materials. This, in turn,

helps slash fuel use in manufacturing and reduce environmental pollution.

Here’s what to ask when you’re buying tiles:

Is the company making efforts to minimize waste and reduce energy during manufacturing?

For example:

o a company could use a water filtration system that captures fine particles that would

have ended up in a landfill.

o they could make tiles from marble dust and natural pigments.

o they can cure tiles instead of firing them in a kiln, to save energy.

Are the tiles made with recycled materials and if so, what is the percentage? (Look for at

least 50% recycled material)

Are the tiles made with abundant or sustainable materials?

Is the company making efforts to use green business practices?


I like the company Eco Friendly Tiles – they’ve got a fun video which shows what they’re doing to

help the planet.

Other Types of Tiles

Don’t forget you can also get:

Glass tiles made from 100% recycled glass.

Metal tiles made from 100% recycled aluminium.

And Another Benefit of Recycled Tiles

Although recycled-content glass tiles are good for the environment, they are also prized by many

interior designers because some types have special decorative qualities, such as translucent

iridescence, not found in other tiles.

Tiles can look stunning, but many people prefer the warmth of wood. Let’s look at its green

credentials next.

http://www.ecofriendlytiles.co.uk/


Wood

Renewable wood that has been salvaged

from an old barn or home is the new wave

for wall covering. Wood is not only for

floors any more.

Wood can be “new” or reclaimed.

Reclaimed wood has a history and

a voice – it instantly gives warmth

to a room.

If you are using new wood, make

sure it’s FSC Certified (i.e.

sustainably grown) and preferably local to your area.

If glues or adhesives are used in the wood, make sure they are VOC free for an eco friendly kitchen.

Wood can be used in numerous ways, such as wood panelling. It's a great choice if you have walls

that aren't in perfect condition as it hides imperfections.

If using solid wood, the greenest option would be

reclaimed timber if possible, For example, one UK

company offers teak wall panels salvaged from old fishing

boats.

Or select a product that’s been certified by the Forest

Stewardship Council (www.FSC.org).

Are MDF and Particle Board Eco Friendly?

MDF and Particle Board sheets and panels are often said to be eco friendly, because the wood used

often comes from renewable pine plantations and also wood waste including paper.

However, they have a big problem. The binders and resins used in MDF often contain formaldehyde

- a known carcinogen. Products containing formaldehyde will continue to off-gas for years.

Of course, you can paint MDF to seal it (this also protects it from moisture). But that doesn’t solve

the problem – it just locks it away.

http://www.fsc.org/


And when it reaches end-of-life, very little MDF is recycled – most of it ends up in landfill, where

chemicals will leach out over time, possibly contaminating groundwater.

The good news is that you can now buy formaldehyde-free MDF. It costs more but’s safer for you

and better for the environment.

(Just to clarify, by “formaldehyde-free”, I mean in reference to binding agents – all wood has some

level of naturally-occurring formaldehyde).

MDF and particle board have advantages – they are

Strong and dense

Cheaper than “natural” wood

Noise absorbent

Fungus and mould resistant

Difficult to ignite

Recyclable

Easy to drill, saw and paint

Just make sure you don’t buy a wood plastic composite – plastic is made from petroleum and is

definitely not eco friendly!


Cork

Cork is another option for an all-natural, chemical-free option for your wall coverings. It is

Soft like suede

A great insulator

Easy to clean

A natural and renewable resource

Waterproof (think of the cork in a bottle!)

Naturally mould and mildew resistant (perfect for those with allergies)

Naturally flame-resistant

A great insulator (much quieter than tiles for example)

Especially forgiving on uneven surfaces due to its elasticity

Cork has a luxurious appeal due to its earthy colours and rich

visual texture.

The material is acquired by stripping most of the outer bark from

the cork oak tree. This regular harvesting does the tree no harm,

and the bark grows back, to be stripped again every nine years.

The trees live for 200 years or so, and the forests, called

Montados, are highly prized and passed down through

generations of families in the cork-producing business.

Even cork processing is relatively straightforward: The cork sheets

or pieces are cured, boiled and pressed. Scraps are collected for

reuse, so almost nothing is wasted.

On the down side however, if you don’t live in Europe (most cork

comes from Portugal), then it will need to be transported to you.

Luckily however, cork is lightweight.

The dilemma of long-distance shipping, however, is counter-

balanced by the truly urgent need to preserve cork forests.

Cork was used in every wine bottle – but now they are being replaced by aluminium screw tops and

petroleum-dependent plastic stoppers.

The decline in demand has hit hard. In addition, cork forest ecosystems are endangered by

increasing population growth and forest clearing. There is concern that this will lead to more forest

fires, a loss of irreplaceable biodiversity and even desertification.


The decreased demand for cork has devalued the forests, leading to sales — even abandonment —

of the once-priceless land.

But using cork for home décor will keep cork forests intact and support a sustainable form of agri-

forestry.

Cork comes in many convenient

options including sheets, panels,

squares, tiles and even mosaics that

are easy to apply to walls and floors.

What To Look Out For With

Cork

As with all wall coverings, be sure to

choose formaldehyde-free, low- or

zero-VOC adhesives for your cork.

And make sure the cork you buy

doesn’t contain toxic dyes, binders and solvents.


Wallpaper

Wallpaper – hmm, it’s not the first choice for an environmentally friendly kitchen. Most wallpapers

now contain vinyl and PVC, formaldehyde, chemical dyes, fungicides, and powerful adhesives. Plus,

most wallpapers are not recyclable, so will ultimately be destined for landfill.

There is some good news for wallpaper lovers- wallpaper isn’t the health hazard it once was.

Napoleon is believed to have died after being poisoned by his wallpaper while in exile on St

Helena, (bacteria living in the flour-and-water paper paste reacted with arsenic in the ink to

create poisonous gas).

And before the late 1970s, vinyl papers contained asbestos. Thankfully these days any health

risks are minimal.

Look for wallpapers that

use water-based inks on

FSC-certified paper with

a non-woven backing.

They can be composted

or recycled as paper at

the end of what should

be a long life. Make sure

they don’t have an acrylic

(petroleum-based)

coating.

And of course, use an

eco-friendly wallpaper

paste (such as Eco from

German natural paint

company Auro) when you

or a professional are hanging the paper.

If you're going to use wallpaper, choose a pattern you can live with for years – it must be durable so

that you get lasting value from the resources used to make it, and not need new resources for a long

time again.

Next – some wallpaper options you may not have thought of!


Grasscloth

Grasscloth is made from many different

plants and fibres such as sea-grass, hemp or

jute.

Most commonly, grasscloth is made up of

single strands of sea grass held in place by

thin cotton thread, with a very light adhesive

to a rice-paper backing, use natural dyes and

finishes.

These wall coverings give an all-natural,

earthy tone to your kitchen walls, and have a

definitive way of bringing the outside indoors.

The term "grasscloth" can be a catch-all word that includes other

types of natural products which look like and behave like

grasscloth – for example hemp, reed, arrowroot and jute.

They show a "panel effect" where you see each piece as a unique,

hand-made panel.

For a high traffic area, choose a "basket

weave"-type of grasscloth. The cross

weaving gives it much more strength.

Be aware that this wallpaper is NOT washable. The only way to clean it is to

blot stains with dry paper towels.

Vacuum it occasionally to remove dust.

This means you don’t want it in high traffic areas or where it will collect moisture or steam.

So, when it comes to your kitchen, you don’t want it close to your cooking or food preparation area.

But you could, for example, place a panel or two in “quieter” parts of your kitchen. Make a feature

of it.

Alternatively, it could be ideal if you have an open-plan layout – put grasscloth in the dining room or

the lounge area where it can be seen from the kitchen.


Natural grasscloth, the non-dyed type, is NOT designed to be matched. Even the dyed type will not

be uniform in colour. It’s a natural product – nature is never uniform.

You put it up like normal wallpaper – get a professional or

DIY if you’re handy and comfortable with hanging wallpaper.

Be sure to avoid pastes that stain - the best paste or adhesive

to use is unmodified potato starch. Here is a video on how to

make your own paste from scratch. For those of you in the

USA and Canada , a good pre-mixed paste for grasscloth type

papers is Roman Decorating Products' Professional 838 Clear

Adhesive – but you must use it full strength and not dilute it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66fxd4h8V4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66fxd4h8V4I


Paperweave

Paperweave is an all-natural wall covering created by hand weaving paper materials together.

Paperweave typically uses vegetable dyes for colouring. There are no chemicals utilized in

paperweave and it is sustainable and earth friendly.

It’s widely used in Japan, and becoming more

popular in Western homes now. An example of

paperweave wallpaper is Shifu - a traditional

Japanese paper sheet, woven with a paper yarn.

Some paperweave wallpapers use 100% paper yarns while others use part paper and part silk,

cotton or hemp for added durability. To keep it eco friendly, avoid paperweave wallpapers which

use paper with synthetic strings.

Paperweave wallpapers are quite durable (especially when you think that they’re made from

paper!). They’re also known for their breathability, and they help to absorb moisture too.

Since the width of a paper yarn can vary from a string to a ribbon, paperweave wallpaper design

patterns are incredibly diverse. While seamless weaving of thin yarns gives some a fabric-like

texture, others made with wider yarns have a texture similar to manila or sisal wallcoverings.

In terms of usage and application paperweave is similair to grasscloth, so see the grasscloth section

above for more details.


Silk

Silk has become one of the most popular wall coverings, not only because it is elegant and beautiful,

but also because it comes from nature. Silk is extremely durable, too.

But be aware: “normal” silk is natural, but not eco friendly.

In traditional silk production, thousands of silkworms are killed

to make just a small amount of material. This makes it

abhorrent to vegans and many vegetarians, animal rights

activists and environmentalists.

(Rayon and polyester are often used as cheap, animal-free silk

replacements, but they are not sustainable, they’re made from

petroleum and do not degrade).

So why is silk wallpaper included in a list of eco friendly kitchen

wall coverings? Because there is a type of silk called peace silk.

Peace silk is natural silk which does not kill the silkworms. Peace

silk is more expensive because it takes more time and skill to

make, but as it increases in popularity it should become more

mainstream. Because of its benefits to people, silkworms, and

the environment, peace silk sits with jute, sisal, hemp and wool as an “eco-fibre”.

As with grass and paperweave wallcoverings, peace silk can be used in a “quieter” part of the

kitchen, or close to the kitchen in an open-plan layout.

Silk looks beautiful and gives a very rich and luxurious feel to an area. It can also be used in smaller

panels rather than over a whole wall or walls.


Paint

Paint is an easy décor option. But make sure it is eco-friendly paint.

“Normal” paint contains VOCs or volatile organic compounds which

are linked to respiratory illnesses and memory impairment; they also

contribute to ozone and smog formation.

Look for paints with a low-VOC or zero-VOC rating and avoid oil-based

paints.

Low or Zero VOC Paints

Paint manufacturers are now offering "non-toxic" formulas made from natural raw ingredients such

as water, milk casein, natural latex, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils.

Low-VOC paints have formulations containing less than 250

grams per litre. The lower, the better.

VOC-free paints have VOC's in the range of 5 grams/litre or less

per can. (In other words, yes, there are still a small amount of

VOCs in VOC-free paint!).

Remember too that these measurements may be without

pigment / colour. Adding a colour tint usually brings the VOC

level up to at least 10 grams/litre.

When it comes to VOCs, like with anything green and eco friendly, less is

always better.

After all, the kitchen is the hub of the home.

Water / Emulsion or Oil-Based Paint?

With recent improvements in paint technology, there is no longer any need to use oil-based paints

indoors.

Water-based paints (emulsions) are cleaner, have less odour and are more environmentally sound.

Brushes can be rinsed clean with water instead of turpentine or white spirit.


Brick

Most bricks are made from clay.

Manufactures will use similar arguments

to granite and stone – bricks are “natural”

and clay is “abundant”.

Well, removing clay often destroys

valuable topsoil, and clay bricks are often

(not always) baked in a coal-fired oven,

contributing significant CO2 and other

greenhouse gas emissions.

But bricks do have advantages. They are :

Durable – so you won’t need new resources to replace them quickly

Good temperature insulators

Inert – they don’t emit VOCs

Quite easy to keep clean

Low maintenance

How to Make Bricks More Eco Friendly

Now, some companies are using new kilns to bake the

bricks that more energy efficient and create less weight.

Many newer bricks are now lighter (but just as durable)

thus reducing transportation emissions.

And of course you’re not only restricted to clay bricks any

more. You can buy

glass bricks made from 100% recycled glass,

bricks made from hemp (a rapidly renewable resource)

bricks made from recycled newspaper!


Final Thoughts

Whatever eco friendly wall covering you place in your home, you can also add these touches to

make sure your home is truly a happy, green home:

Place plants in often-used rooms to purify the air and generate well-being

Let the sunlight in wherever possible

When it comes to wall coverings, remember that an educated consumer is really a consumer who

has enough knowledge and information to help the environment - while keeping their family safe as

well.

Use this report to narrow down your options for eco friendly wall coverings, and then ask questions

of your supplier.

When you make the most eco friendly choices for your kitchen, you’re not only helping the

environment, you’re also helping your own health too!

There’s always new and updated information on green and eco friendly living at EcoFriendlyLink. If

you haven’t already done so, sign up to get an important free report, as well as weekly updates,

hints, tips and special offers!

http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog

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