Did you know that Americans throw away enough glass bottles every two weeks to fill a 1,350 ft skyscraper? What a monumental waste of recyclable materials!
As glass is one of our most fascinating and recyclable materials, knowing more about it will do our environment a huge favor. Using recycled glass has become an important part of “going green”; such that recycled glass tiles are no longer only a trend, but also a new customer niche in remodeling and home decor. With more consumers seeking environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible solutions for their homes and businesses, there is a continuously growing demand for recycled glass in home remodeling projects. Eco flooring is on the rise!
Recycled Glass Herringbone Mosaic In Wood Color
What Recycling Means for the Environment
If you’ve ever dropped a glass, it’s easy to think of glass as a fragile material. Actually, glass is one of the longest-lasting man-made materials on earth given the fact that it takes around 1 million years for one glass bottle to decompose in nature!
To give you an example of the importance of using recyclable materials in your home, recycling one glass bottle will save enough energy to run a computer for 25 minutes. Additionally, materials produced from recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%. Recycling glass also saves 30% of the energy needed to produce glass from scratch.
To transform from an empty bottle to beautiful tiles you're proud to display on your walls, glass goes through an amazing recycling loop until it is ready to become a recycled glass tile backsplash or floor. The process starts with the collection of these materials followed by careful selection and color sorting by the recycling production. The old glass is crushed and mixed with sand and other materials to form beautiful new glass. The result are beautiful sustainable building materials that will benefit generations to come!
Benefits of Recycled Glass Tile
Remodeling your home with sustainability in mind can significantly contribute to world's energy consumption. Many 'green' products and materials are also more durable and effective compared to non-sustainable products. Washington state’s CWC reports that “the strength and absorption properties of well-made recycled glass tiles is as good as, and often much better than, ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) requirements for similar types of material.”
Glass tile can be used on walls, floors, or as accents in combination with other materials. Certain glass tiles can also be installed outdoors for pools or spas - always look for the Area of Use when deciding which tiles are right for your project. Glass tiles are known to be non-absorptive, meaning they do not hold water or stains, and are resistant to chemicals. This makes them low-maintenance and easy to clean, reducing the use of harsh cleaning materials and adding another eco-friendly benefit!
In terms of aesthetics, glass tiles offer a wide variety of color options with a highly reflective quality. Ranging from neutrals to the most vibrant colors, these lustrous tiles offer a unique visual appeal for your home decor! In addition to offering an earth friendly building material, they come in classic designs like subway and penny round tile options.
See more of our Recycled Glass Tile collection to find the right look for your design!
Recycled Glass 2" Hexagon Mosaic In Blue Wood Color
The awesome thing about glass is that it's 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or quality. That means that recycled tiles are not just an eco-friendly solution for your next design project, but are a choice that will continue to benefit future generations. The gift that keeps on giving! So what's stopping you from going green?
