2008 and 2009 Finalist GR Green Building Products, a manufacturer of roofing and siding products from waste limestone and recycled plastic, is one of 10 finalists in the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Challenge on green building products.
GR Green’s President, Geoff Wensel, cannot hold his enthusiasm: “This is big news for a little green start-up from BC. To be shortlisted as one of the best new green products in the world is already a prize. Becoming one of three winners sharing a cash prize of $250,000 on November 15th would be icing on the cake”.
The Challenge was to create a building product that is safe, healthy, affordable, effective, and designed to be returned safely to nature or industry after use.
GR Green developed a new patented process to up-cycle 44,000 plastic bags and 4,400 plastic milk bottles into a new roof that looks natural and costs less that real slate and cedar. The best part is that the whole process is waste free, causes virtually no CO2 emissions and finished products can be recycled into new products after 50+ years of use.
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, in partnership with Make It Right launched its first Challenge in November 2012. By June, over 100 products had been entered. “These innovations embody shared values of practical sustainability and entrepreneurship” said Bridgett Luther, president of the Institute.