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Fashion has come to the kitchen. As one celebrity chef after another appears 'at home' in their own kitchen so we become ever more aspirational with regard to the design of our own kitchens. Current fashionable materials in kitchen design are stainless steel and wood - but which are the most environmentally friendly? Cabinets When it comes to your kitchen cabinets the healthiest material to use is untreated wood that you are certain comes from a sustainable source, preferably with FSC certification. It is expensive and higher maintenance, but it is also probably the best ecological choice. Some of the cheapest and most popular materials for kitchen cabinets are particleboards or chipboards covered in plastic laminate, but they offer mixed blessings in terms of the environment. While they often make good use of small bits of timber that are produced in sustainable forestry, the glue that is used to bind them together can contain the health-threatening chemical formaldehyde - a suspected carcinogen, which can offgas (leak into the air) around you. Up to 10 per cent of some boards' weight is made up of this glue. Look instead for formaldehyde-free board or low-formaldehyde chipboard. Surfaces Kitchen surfaces can make all the difference when it comes to how your kitchen looks - be it the clean, minimalist look of stainless steel or the robust but beautiful good looks of granite. But as with kitchen units, the most eco-friendly choice will probably be wood - provided it has been harvested from a sustainably managed forest. Wood is not necessarily the most practical choice, however. With a tendency to stain and absorb water, it must be protected in some way - look out for environmentally friendly resin and oil finishes. The hard-wearing nature of granite or slate may be more attractive to you, but the energy used in quarrying, cutting and transporting these and other stone surfaces makes them a high-cost option in terms of the environment. Also be sure to get granite checked by the supplier for levels of the radioactive gas radon, which it contains naturally and continues to emit. Stainless steel is becoming increasingly popular as a kitchen surface but its production is a pretty polluting process. It is, however, incredibly durable and non-polluting in the home, plus it has a high recycled content in the form of scrap steel and can be reused relatively easily. For a more rustic look, ceramic tiles are popular but these are often glazed with toxic chemicals and the energy required to fire them is enormous. Look for reclaimed tiles and at least you will be doing your bit in terms of recycling. Plastics, such as melamine or Formica, are a common material used for kitchen surfaces, but they are to be avoided if at all possible, since their manufacture is detrimental to the environment and impact on our health uncertain. Floors Above all, kitchen floors need to be hard-wearing and waterproof. For the best in durability and eco-credentials, opt for linoleum, which is made of natural materials. But do not be tempted to go for the cheaper option of vinyl linoleum, since this is made using PVC, the manufacture of which is polluting and wasteful in terms of energy, and it does not biodegrade. Other green flooring options in the kitchen are cork and terracotta tiles. Make sure you seal cork tiles using a 'green' product. If using terracotta, look for reclaimed tiles and again make sure they are sealed against water. Walls The kind of paint you use in the kitchen is important, since steam and condensation are likely to be problems. But before you reach for conventional paints designed for kitchens, which usually contain fungicides among their long list of toxic chemical ingredients, seek out organic alternatives. Tiles and stainless steel can also be used on walls, especially as splashbacks behind the sink. |
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