Ecofriendly Kitchen: Recycled Tile for Backsplashes
Pick a popular look for your kitchen backsplash design and go green as well, with beautiful tiles made from recycled materials
It's easy to love recycling when the result is pure eye candy — like these ecofriendly tiles. Sustainable tile choices for the kitchen backsplash boil down to three main types: glass, ceramic or metal, all comprised in part of recycled content.
We generate a lot of waste In the United States: 210 million tons annually. Recycled-content tiles are a great way to repurpose or "upcycle" waste otherwise destined for the landfill. Plus, reuse of materials means reducing the mining of new materials. Recycled content can come from two sources:
We generate a lot of waste In the United States: 210 million tons annually. Recycled-content tiles are a great way to repurpose or "upcycle" waste otherwise destined for the landfill. Plus, reuse of materials means reducing the mining of new materials. Recycled content can come from two sources:
- Preconsumer/Postindustrial: This is scrap typically generated in the production of conventional tiles, and sometimes in the manufacturing of other products
- Postconsumer: This can come from unusual sources like old, inefficient toilets, or from curbside recycling of glass.
Fireclay Tile has been an industry leader in sustainable tile since 1988, when the company changed to lead-free glazes. Its Debris series combines 60 percent recycled content from both postindustrial and postconsumer waste. The tiles are handmade and molded, which results in a lovely natural color variation.
Cost: Starting at $24 per square foot
Cost: Starting at $24 per square foot
Glass Tile
Glass takes a million years to fully break down in a landfill, and recycling glass consumes just 30 percent of the energy required to produce it from raw materials.
Nearly all of Oceanside Glasstile's products contain recycled content, which ranges from 30 to 97 percent of the tile composition. This kitchen makes handsome use of its Elevations series (in platinum).
Cost: $40 to $70 per square foot
Glass takes a million years to fully break down in a landfill, and recycling glass consumes just 30 percent of the energy required to produce it from raw materials.
Nearly all of Oceanside Glasstile's products contain recycled content, which ranges from 30 to 97 percent of the tile composition. This kitchen makes handsome use of its Elevations series (in platinum).
Cost: $40 to $70 per square foot
Interstyle has a diverse recycled glass tile line, including Icestix, shown in this refined and airy kitchen palette. Its Agates series is made of 100 percent recycled glass.
Cost: Starting at $33 per square foot
Cost: Starting at $33 per square foot
Most of the tiles in Ann Sacks' Profile series are comprised of recycled content, ranging from 30 percent preconsumer waste to 65 percent postconsumer recycled bottle glass.
Cost: $40 to $80 per square foot
Cost: $40 to $80 per square foot
Crush Recycled Glass Tile
Fireclay Tile's Crush line boasts up to 100 percent recycled content. The product is made in California with locally sourced preconsumer window glass.
Cost: $28 to $70 per square foot
Cost: $28 to $70 per square foot
Eco Friendly Flooring Metal Tile
Metal Tile
Aluminum takes 200 to 500 years to fully degrade in a landfill, and recycling aluminum consumes 95 percent less energy than making aluminum from raw materials.
Recycled aluminum tiles are easier on the environment and add drama to your backsplash, like these from Eco Friendly Flooring in Wisconsin.
Cost: Starting at $35 per square foot
Aluminum takes 200 to 500 years to fully degrade in a landfill, and recycling aluminum consumes 95 percent less energy than making aluminum from raw materials.
Recycled aluminum tiles are easier on the environment and add drama to your backsplash, like these from Eco Friendly Flooring in Wisconsin.
Cost: Starting at $35 per square foot
Recycled metal tiles can blend a luxe appearance and ecofriendly thinking in the kitchen. Delicious!
Here are two final tips:
9 Ways Grout Can Add to Your Design
Get Stone and Ceramic Surfaces Super Clean
Here are two final tips:
- Your ecofriendly tile deserves nontoxic grout. As with most products, look for grout labeled low-VOC or no-VOC.
- Keep your tile looking great without tons of harsh chemicals. Years ago a sales representative from a boutique tile store shared with me her best tip: a drop of Dawn in some water.
9 Ways Grout Can Add to Your Design
Get Stone and Ceramic Surfaces Super Clean
Ann Sacks' Savoy series (with "Eco-Thinking" products), is made from 21 percent postindustrial recycled content, including ceramic waste material from discarded clay and tableware pieces. The refined Savoy series is broad, affordable and goes easy on the environment.
Cost: $12 to $15 per square foot