Environmentally Friendly Recycled Products

The term "environmentally-friendly" has been thrown around a good deal by product retailers and manufacturers to cater to ecologically conscientious customers, but the term does not necessarily ensure that purchasing the product will result in any significant environmental benefit. Similarly, although a product made from recyclable materials is usually a better environmental choice than not, some materials are so destructive to the environment, even recycled, their use could not be considered environmentally friendly.

Glass

• Glass can be recycled over and over again without losing strength and durability.

  Glass is a very practical recyclable material and can be recycled over and over again without losing its strength. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90 percent of all recycled glass is used to make new glass containers, although only 23 percent of newly manufactured glass is actually recycled. Products made from recycled glass include items such as glass tile and countertops from Enviroglas, glass beads and jewelry from Smartglass Recycled Jewelry and glass rocks and landscaping elements from American Specialty Glass.

Paper

• Wrapping paper is sometimes made from post-consumer paper fibers.

  Americans recycle half of the paper they use, and 80 percent of paper mills in America are equipped to use paper from recycling programs. The most prevalent use of recycled paper is in the re-making of the paper itself. Office and copy paper are often sold with a certain percentage of post-consumer fiber; gift cards and wrapping paper made from 100 percent recycled paper are offered by Green Field Paper Company; Seventh Generation offers 100 percent recycled paper napkins, towels and facial tissue. EcoProducts manufactures single-use, take-out containers made from post-consumer fiber and a cornstarch, rather than plastic, lining that breaks down in a landfill in 180 days.

Wood

• Reclaimed wood is sometimes used in furniture and flooring.

  Wood waste is primarily a product of the construction industry. Six million tons of wood wastes were generated in the U.S. in 2003. Though much of recycled wood is used for industrial products, such as fuel or mulch, and some is used to make fiber or particleboard, there are some consumer products made from recycled wood. Recycled wood furniture is offered by Antique Woodworks, recycled wood flooring is available from Green Home Solutions and recycled firewood is offered by U.S. Recycled Wood Products.

Steel

• Recycled food and beverage cans often make more food and beverage cans.

  Much of the steel and aluminum recycled today is from industrial sources, such as construction sites and auto yards. Recycled steel and aluminum food and beverage containers usually go on to make more steel and aluminum food and beverage containers. Recycled industrial steel goes into appliances, auto body and engine parts, and construction materials.

Plastics

• Plastic does not biodegrade.

  In 2006, 2.7 million tons of plastic bottles lined U.S. shelves. Over 80 percent were not recycled. Even the use of recycled plastic, however, does not result in an environmentally friendly product. Melted down recycled plastic pellets are used in carpeting, clothing and plastic lumbar, however, all these products need virgin plastic in their construction as well, and none can be recycled at the end of their life-span. Most importantly, plastic does not biodegrade. Even in its tiniest form, plastic molecules remain in oceans and landfills for centuries.