Have you ever cut food on a paper plate? It can be a risky endeavor ending in a damaged table surface or worse, dinner on your lap. As a cutting surface, other materials seem like a better choice than paper. Used for its ease of manufacture, disposal and recyclability, we find paper all around us. The proliferation of paper in our society makes it a rapidly renewable resource that can be recycled again and again. One place recycled paper has been exempt from is the kitchen, aside from paper plates and cups which both lack confidence in their kitchen duties.

Paperstone.

Paperstone is a solid surface material made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard. The cellulose fiber (paper) is bound with a non-petroleum phenolic resin derived in part from a natural phenolic oil in the shells of cashews. Coloration is achieved with organic pigments, which assure an even color distribution, superior UV resistance, and color stability. Paperstone offers two lines of recycled paper-based products: 1) ‘Original’, which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard and 2) ‘Certified’,is made from 100% post-consumer standard office paper.

In terms of usability, Paperstone is a versatile product that can be used indoors and outdoors, as a horizontal surface or a vertical panel. It is amazingly stain and abrasion resistant, which makes it a great option for a green countertop material. I like the warmth of Paperstone in contrast to the standard stone or metal countertop options. There are a wide variety of color choices, all of which have an interesting “pooling” quality, that provides a lot more depth to the surface than many other composite solid surfaces. The company says the product ages over time, developing a seasoned appearance which articulates the character of the material. Paperstone claims to be the “greenest material on the market”, a big statement for a competitive market, but definitely worth a second look.