Green Architecture & Building Products

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Material or Product

Richlite Countertops

Source

Richlite countertops are made primarily of paper purchased from FSC-certified sources and/or recycled paper. The paper is treated with resin then pressed and baked to create solid sheets. The same material has been used for decades by the aerospace industry for tooling, the marine industry for fiberglass reinforcement and the action sports industry for outdoor skate ramp surfaces.

Richlite specializes in the manufacture of natural fiber composites, using primarily paper that is treated with phenolic resin and baked to create a solid sheet. During the production cycle the layers of paper are gradually crossed-linked with each other to create solid, durable sheets. Once the curing process is complete, the structure of the product is permanent and cannot be altered. The final product is exceptionally strong and still maintains a warm and natural look.

The paper used by Richlite comes from pulp that is derived from trees which is produced from paper purchased from FSC-Certified sources and/or recycled paper. As of January 2011, Richlite offers two products that contain recycled content; r50 contains 50 percent old corrugated cardboard (post-consumer waste) while r100 is made with 100 percent recycled paper (post-consumer waste) and is certified by FSC.