Out with the old and in with the new. It’s a habit that makes our carbon footprint grow. If what is new is also a more sustainable product, it can cut that footprint down a size or two. John Vanderkolk, vice-president of Kitchen Designers Plus says his company has some unique offerings that fit into the “whole green trend in kitchens.”
One of those trends is cabinets made from the wood of Lyptus trees, a tropical hardwood that can be harvested every 14 to 16 years as opposed to the typical 80 to 100 year hardwood growth cycle. It’s available in a variety of door styles and a number of column designs that lend themselves to country or traditional kitchens.
“It’s a very hard wood, it’s harder than cherry, says Vanderkolk adding that the “price point fits right in between cherry and maple.”
Bamboo is another environmentally friendly option for cabinet doors. Its five- to six-year growth cycle has made it a “green” choice for flooring and, as Vanderkolk points out, bamboo has been used to create furniture for hundreds of years.
A kitchen with lyptus cabinets was recently purchased by a couple whose 21-year-old daughter influenced their decision based on her concern for the health of the planet. The young woman was firmly against using maple, says the company vice-president.
Not available in green but a green product none-the-less, CaesarStone creates a countertop by recycling off-cuts of quartz from their factory. The engineered countertops come only in two different colours –light brown and black with speckles in it. While the colour choice is limited, the countertops have all of the other qualities of quartz including durability.
Kitchen Designers Plus demonstrates its commitment to a cleaner environment as a member of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association’s Environmental Stewardship Program. A visit to the company’s website reveals an image of a man hugging a tree which identifies the link to information about their commitment.
You’ll find the Kitchen Designers Plus website at
www.kdplus.ca.
