Join the Cradle-to-Cradle revolution, where there is no 'away,' just a next life designed into smart stuff. Here Helen Milling shares the green products and materials her firm is using

A Wood Alternative

Who would have thought sunflower seed hulls could look like various types of burled wood? This fascinating material, Dakota Burl®, can even be stained to look like traditional wood. Uses: cabinetry, work surfaces, decorative millwork details. Environ Biocomposites: www.environbiocomposites.com

Back to the Cradle

We are impressed with the Cradle-to-Cradle design philosophy that Herman Miller has adopted for its systems furniture. By eliminating the concept of waste, Herman Miller's products are designed to be disassembled, recycled, and/or refurbished. Uses: staff office cubicles, back-of-the-house organization. Herman Miller: www.hermanmiller.com

High Design

For the Medina County District Library, OH, David Edward Furniture was selected for both good design and a commitment to environmentally friendly materials. David Edward Furniture can use strawboard substrates (instead of higher embodied-energy materials), natural latex foams (for seating cushions), FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified Woods, in addition to many other natural or chemical-free materials. David Edward Furniture: www.davidedward.com

Friendly to Decorators

Handsome EnviroGLAS Terrazzo uses postconsumer and postindustrial recycled glass, mirror, and porcelain with an epoxy resin binder. It is easy to maintain, contains no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and can be ground up and recycled into new terrazzo at the end of its extremely long service life. Uses: where stone or tile would be considered. EnviroGLAS Products, Inc.: www.enviroglasproducts.com

Reliable Textiles

Knoll's large variety of recycled textiles are made with significant recycled content or natural fibers. As we consider indoor air quality for each library, we know that we can specify 95 percent of Knoll Textiles' products (pictured below on the furniture at the Harper Woods PL, MI) - almost all are GreenGuard Certified for low chemical and particle emissions. Uses: staff office cubicles (systems furniture), wall coverings, upholstery. Knoll Textiles: www.knolltextiles.com Also consider Arc-Com Eco-Tex fabrics, manufactured from 100 percent recycled polyester and can be recycled into new fabric within a closed-loop manufacturing cycle. Arc-Com: www.arc-com.com; Architex: www.architex.ljh.com

Make It Curvy

3form's Ecoresin panels - made from 40 percent postindustrial recycled material - excite with the many design possibilities that the material offers. The transparent, copolyester sheet - used instead of glass in the railing system at Harper Woods - can be laser-cut and thermally bent into any shape. The nontoxic copolyester resins are recyclable and if accidentally burned put out only carbon dioxide and water. Uses:public service desk surfaces, replacement for glass in interior applications, work surfaces. 3 form: www.3-form.com

Yummy to the Touch

Environ Biocomposite, made from recycled newsprint and soy-based resins, comes in multiple colors and thicknesses. This terrific product has the presence and visual depth of some polished stone products without the cold touch. Uses: work surfaces, cabinetry. Environ Biocomposites, LLC: www.environbiocomposites.com

Eye-Catching Aluminum

This vibrant material visually speaks the language of recycling - the 60 percent postindustrial scrap aluminum in Alkemi sits beneath its transparent polyester resin surface. Uses: public service desk tops, work surfaces. Renewed Materials, LLC: www.renewedmaterials.com

Talk About Wallpaper

These nontoxic Innvironments wall coverings are comprised of recycled polyester and wood pulp. Some have an appealing iridescent look. The surface is breathable - an excellent choice in locations where mold can be a problem. Uses: covering walls, columns, panels. Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc.: www.innovationsusa.com

The Comeback Kid

Now that a wide range of marvelous colors lets folks see beyond the 'battleship' variety, Linoleum is making a comeback. Not to be confused with vinyl flooring products of the same name, linoleum is solidified linseed oil and burlap, natural products that do not produce toxic off-gassing. It is and always has been sustainable. Forbo Linoleum tops the children's tables at Harper Woods, above. Uses: long-lasting floor surfaces that can be designed to incorporate several colors in a seamless pattern. Forbo: www.forbolinoleumna.com; Armstrong: www.armstrong.com; Tarkett: www.tarkett-commercial.com

Resilient Rubber

Make your children's crafts area both colorful and rugged with Reztec Rubber Flooring, made with recycled tires, postindustrial waste, and virgin rubber. The XCR Cork Rubber Flooring line incorporates cork as well and is available in colors conducive to large spaces. Uses: high-traffic flooring, crafts rooms. Expanko: www.expanko.com

The Floor That Grows Back

Bamboo is a rapidly renewable natural resource that serves as a durable hard surface. It is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to many wood applications. Uses: flooring, walls, reading tables, work surfaces. EcoTimber: www.ecotimber.com; DuroDesign Flooring Inc.: www.duro-design.com; Teragren: www.teragren.com Cork flooring (not pictured) is another renewable option. It's sound-absorbent, resistant to wear, and easy on the carbon footprint. Expanko Cork: www.expanko.com; Capri Cork: www.capricork.com

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Author Information, Our Expert: Practicing interior design in Michigan since 1972, Helen Milling first worked in the Lansing area, where she provided interior design services for the Michigan Court of Appeals, the State's Bureau of Facilities, and the executive offices of then governor William Milliken. More recently, she has worked closely with key staff at David Milling Architects (DMA) to complete interior design services - including finishes, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment - for more than a dozen libraries ranging in size from 4000 to 100,000 square feet.

Helen Milling, IIDA, LEED AP

(hmilling@dmaa.com)

Director of Interior Design

David Milling Architects

Ann Arbor, MI

734-913-1010