Concrete is one of those materials that is associated with green building (countertops, home construction, etc.), but it does take a large amount of energy to produce. However, its durability makes it attractive. The CB2 Element Coffee table is made of concrete, in an eco-friendly workshop...

The Element Coffee table is made from an aggregate of marble, granite, stone and natural fibers. Covered with a clear non-toxic wax finish, and handmade in an eco-friendly workshop powered without consumption of fossil fuels, it will truly last a lifetime.

The major impacts that people tend to associate with concrete are the use of cement, which is produced in an energy-intensive process, and the extraction of raw materials such as virgin aggregates.

However, the most energy-intensive component of concrete is portland cement which typically accounts for only about 10-15% of the total composition of concrete — the rest being water and aggregate.

So what do you think? Is this table a good purchase for a green home?

Resources:
• Cement Americas
• Concrete Centre

CB2 Element Coffee Table via PSFK.