Natural Fusion

With a history of working with everything from wood scraps to cotton rope and cardboard, Fernando and Humberto Campana have established themselves as the go-to designers for companies looking for creative ways to use green materials. Last April, the multi-national, Spanish-based manufacturer Cosentino asked the Brazilian duo to build a large-scale installation in Milan using its recycled surface, Eco by Cosentino. To demonstrate the product’s unique attributes, the designers combined it with wood slabs to construct a cavelike environment. “The idea behind it was to resemble rock sediment, essentially because it’s the background of our company—to create natural beauty out of existing waste,” says Lorenzo Marquez, the vice president of marketing for Cosentino North America.

The surfaces in the Eco by Cosentino line are made by “upcycling” old products (mirrors, glass bottles, and porcelain tiles and sinks), which are mixed with natural materials (like stone scraps) and bonded together with a low-impact resin made from corn oil. (Even 94 percent of the water used in manufacturing is recycled.) And unlike completely natural-stone surfaces, such as granite, Eco doesn’t require sealers—a plus when it comes to maintenance. “The idea was to utilize materials that are hard and durable enough to be scratch- and stain-resistant as well as appealing to the eye,” Marquez says. And once the customer has tired of his Eco countertop, the company will collect the product and recycle it once again, this time into mosaic backsplashes.

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PROPERTIES
Eco by Cosentino is resistant to scratches, stains, and scorching and also has an extremely low rate of water absorption and porosity, making it an ideal material for bathrooms and kitchens. It is available in three thicknesses (0.5, 0.75, or 1.25 inches) and in a large, 63 x 128–inch slab or standard 12 x 12–inch, 18 x 18–inch, and 24 x 24–inch sizes.

COMPOSITION
Seventy-five percent postindustrial and postconsumer recycled materials and 25 percent natural materials bonded with a corn oil–based resin.

APPLICATIONS
Countertops, flooring, and wall cladding in both commercial and residential projects. Available in ten colors and in a polished or matte finish.

DISTRIBUTOR
Cosentino North America
13124 Trinity Dr.
Stafford, TX 77477
(866) 579-4326
www.ecobycosentino.com