Frit is the trade term used to describe recycled glass once it has been ground down into a fine sand. Generally ‘Frit’ is seen as a midway stage in a longer manufacturing process and is normally supplied as a raw material for making tiles or even recycled glass bottles. However, Frit has an aesthetic all of its own and can be used in a variety of ways which don’t involve melting or pressing.

TriVitro in Seattle makes specially sized and colored chips of recycled glass for use in terrazzo flooring, tiles, counter tops, concrete pavers, wall finishes and exposed aggregate surfaces. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, frit is excellent for any project seeking to maximize green building practices and LEED criteria.

Andy Ouderkirk and fellow 3M scientist Mike Weber were zapping polymers with powerful lasers as part of a materials science experiment when Ouderkirk realized he could bind together hundreds of sheets of polymer film to create a highly reflective material. The resulting plastic mirror is much cheaper to produce than the traditional vacuum-coated glass variety. And it reflects light waves from across the spectrum: because the film doesn’t absorb infrared, it can be used as an invisible window coating, screening out solar rays without blocking any visible light and radio waves, as metallic screens do.

“There’s an incredible breadth of apps,” says Ouderkirk. “We’re having a good time exploring.”

Blaine Brownell—TRANSMATERIALhttp://transstudio.com

Kirei board is a new environmentally friendly building material composed of 100% recycled agricultural fiber. Strong and lightweight, Kirei board has nearly unlimited uses in contemporary design.

Manufactured from recycled sorghum stalks and the formaldehyde-free KR Bond adhesive, Kirei board helps to reduce landfill waste and eliminate harmful Volatile Organic Compounds in the ambient airspace.

Sorghum, the principal component of Kirei board, is a drought-tolerant food grain requiring little fertilizer or pesticides to grow. Now, through a revolutionary process, these previously discarded stalks provide the foundation for a strong, delicately grained, lightweight building material.

Ideal uses for Kirei board include: interior architectural surfacing, cabinetry, furniture, paneling, display fixturing, interior wall coverings, office dividers, home decoration, and finished products & accessories.

Blaine Brownell—TRANSMATERIALhttp://transstudio.com

Headquartered in Elie, Manitoba, Canada, Isobord Enterprises Inc. manufactures Isobord, a premium engineered strawboard product. Made from finely-chopped wheat straw and non-formaldehyde resins, Isobord is an environmentally friendly product used in the construction of furniture, cabinetry, countertops and case good items.

Isobord Enterprises Inc. began operations in 1998 with the production of 4-foot by 8-foot Isobord panels in a variety of thicknesses. The formaldehyde-free product immediately caught the attention of furniture, cabinetry and countertop manufacturers for use as a component product.

Isobord’s ability to hold lamination, paints and veneers has made it a sought-after environmentally friendly product by industries worldwide.

Isobord Enterprises also produces several products that are sold directly to consumers in home improvement retail locations throughout North America. The environmentally friendly products currently available to consumers include Shelfbord shelving products; Storagebord attic storage system panels; and, Isounderlay underlayment panels for flooring applications.

Blaine Brownell—TRANSMATERIALhttp://transstudio.com

Concrete sidewalks are uplifted by tree roots, and trees struggling for air and water develop large and invasive root systems below concrete.

Rubber sidewalks are made of 100% recycled California tire rubber. Each square foot utilizes the rubber from one passenger tire. Tree roots grow less invasively beneath rubber sidewalks, offering a new strategy for sidewalk maintenance. The modularity of rubber sidewalks allows tree roots to be periodically inspected and trimmed.

Easy and economical to install, rubber sidewalks are available in 2’ x 2.5’ x 1.875” sheets and five different colors. They are pervious, allowing drainage at module seams, are flame resistant, non-toxic, and meet ADA requirements for slip resistance.

Blaine Brownell—TRANSMATERIALhttp://transstudio.com