Sustainable Materials

Sustainable materials are environmentally conscious alternatives to traditional materials aimed at minimizing potential negative impacts on the environment and encouraging responsible resource management.

Derived from natural renewable sources and/or reclaimed and reprocessed materials from post-consumer/post-industrial products, recycled and sustainable plastics are a rapidly growing part of the materials industry. Reprocessed, recycled, and sustainable plastics provide alternatives to traditional plastics that have comparable mechanical properties while reducing their impact on the environment.

Interstate Advanced Materials is dedicated to providing sustainable material alternatives that provide the same or better mechanical properties than the materials they replace. The products on this page are either manufactured using recycled material or are recyclable products.

In general, all sustainable products are considered green, but not all green products are considered sustainable. Green products focus entirely on minimizing negative impacts on the environment during production, use, and disposal, regardless of the societal impacts they may have through transport of the product or the materials that go into making them. Sustainable materials emphasize environmental, societal, and economic considerations, keeping not only the environment but also future generations in mind when trying to meet the needs of the present. Sustainable products try to ensure that future generations will have the same chance to produce the same product for their own benefit without negatively impacting the environment.

A material is considered sustainable when its production, use, and disposal have minimal impacts on the environment, society, and the economy. A sustainable material has several identifiable characteristics:

• Renewable Resources: Sustainable materials are made from renewable resources that can be replenished naturally and not deplete over time or produced using recycled content. Recycled or reclaimed content helps divert waste from landfills and reduces the demand for new raw materials.
• Energy and Environmental Impact: Sustainable materials do not harm the environment directly or cause irreversible damage. They should use less energy and resources during manufacturing, distribution, and general use.
• Non-Toxic: Sustainable materials should be non-toxic and contain no substances considered hazardous to health.
• Durability: Sustainable materials are durable to not require frequent repairs, replacement, or maintenance.
• Disposal Plan: Sustainable materials are designed to be disposed of in a safe way, either through recycling or biodegradability, to ensure minimal waste during disposal.
• Ethical Sourcing: Sustainable materials are produced under fair labor laws and respect human rights throughout their supply chain.

One common perception is that sustainable construction is more expensive than standard construction. While development costs are more expensive to an extent, the cost of owning and operating inside a green or environmentally friendly building is overall lower due to the sustainable materials used in its construction.