It’s not often that I come across a product impresses me as much in person as it does in theory. A few weeks ago as I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Apartment Therapy, I came across an innovative new company called Way Basics. They make a product called zBoard, which essentially is a basic, eco-building block for anything you can imagine. A little vague, I know, but the product is so versatile that its also a bit hard to describe.
zBoards are made of 99% post-consumer waste paper and are 100% recyclable. Intrigued yet? I know I was. Of course, the first question that came to my mind was “how strong can these zBoards really be if they are made of recycled paper.” The simple answer: Strong enough to build bookshelves, tables and even beds, all fully capable of holding the weight that their functions would require.
Despite this promise, I had to try it for myself, so I was thrilled when Way Basics sent me a sample of their Cube², a basic piece made of 2 stacked cubes that is part of their series of pre-designed pieces. It had to be assembled, so I called in my husband for reinforcement. Little did I know how easy the task would be. It took us less than 10 minutes to assemble it…seriously. How often can you say that about furniture? Assembly essentially consists of peeling away adhesive backing and pressing the edges of the pieces together. Despite the humble construction, it is amazingly strong. We have been using it as low bookshelf with a lamp on top, and it shows no signs of buckling.
Way Basics has earned themselves a fan, and I’m more than happy to pass the word on to my loyal readers.
Why It’s Green:
- Made of 99% post-consumer waste paper
- 100% recyclable
Price: Their pieces are remarkably affordable, ranging from $1.75 for a shelf divider, (yes, that’s $1.75) to $62 for a three shelf bookcase.
Want to win one?
The folks at WayBasics have been gracious enough to offer up a Cube² worth $34.75 in green (a fitting color) to one reader of Green Your Decor who can come up with the most innovative use of zBoards. It may seem like a daunting task, but think of them as human-sized Legos. Armed with a stack of zBoards, you can build anything you want, from a side table to a desk, bookshelf, buffet table or even a bed.
To participate, head on over to Way Basics and check out their design gallery for examples of the pieces you can create. Don’t worry about the details, like how many zBoards you’d need or how much the finished piece would cost. Just come back here and leave a comment before 11:59 p.m. August 14, 2008, about what you would use WayBasics zBoards to build. The possibilities are literally endless! You can add doors, dividers, legs and other accessories to make your idea unique, so don’t limit yourself to a simple shelf. The ideas will be reviewed by Way Basics CEO Jimmy Chiang and I, so may the most innovative suggestion win!
You can enter as many times as you’d like. Please leave only one suggestion per comment. The contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents only, and irrelevant comments like “I’d love to win this”, “This is awesome” or “I’m trying to go green” will be deleted. Remember, the entry period ends at 11:59 p.m. August 14, 2008.
SIDE NOTE: If you’re wondering how Way Basics could possibly get any greener, it’s all about the way they do business. When I asked Jimmy Chiang to ship me a Cube² so I could give it away, his response was as green as they get: To save freight and carbon emissions, they would ship to the winner directly. I couldn’t argue with that logic 
Good luck! And while you’re here, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for Green Your Decor via RSS or via email. Either way, you’ll be sure to receive all the updates on awesome new products from Green Your Decor and more fantastic green giveaways!
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I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
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A small table: I’d love to have a zboard with plenty of drawers, and roller wheels. The drawers would be used to store magazines.
Next item.
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Dresser: I am one of those people who hate to have their toiletries and different thingies exposed on their dresser. No need to say why though!
So I’d have one small zboard over another. The bottom zboard would naturally have drawers (I am obsessed, I know!) , and the upper one would have a mirror in the front, that hides my toiletries inside. Genius, huh?
I’ll stop spamming. I still have plenty of idea though.
I hope I win.
How cool! I could definately use these to build a storage unit for my material and other sewing/crafting supplies. I would add doors on the bottom. I could really use something like this to help me organize!
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I’d build a storage cabinet to put in my kitchen because I really need one.
My son wants to go green and I think he would love one of the cubes for his room to put his video games.
I’d make a cat activity gym!
I’m a huge collector of tv on dvd and I would make a multi bookcase to put each in its own category. They would be all shaped different and in a very unique way. I could put classic tv in one section,comedies in another etc.
I would make multi color cube unit for my classroom I would like it to be a cool shape and would use it to organize supplies
I would use them to make a large stand with several different sized cubbies and make a bookcase.
I love the tall cabinet with doors it looks like it takes 12 small z boards and 4 large boards and 8 doors….love it
3beez at bellsouth dot net
These Cube2 from WayBasics are so cool! I can think of so many different spaces in our home we can put these to create more storage and at the same time make that storage look decorative! I am all about functionality, if something does not serve a function, then I don’t want it around in my home. I am not much for knick=knacks, they serve no purpose, however, art pieces may not serve a specific purpose, but they bring me peace and relaxtion, and joy so they are allowed. So, I would use the Cube2 or highlight some of our rare and unusual artwork which we prominently display in our living room. I would love to create some sort of multi-level structure with the cubes and have the art purposefully place at different levels to create not only an eye catching visual effect, but also make the Cube2 look like it is also a piece of artwork. Does that make sense to you!?! I am sure I can think of more reasonable ways to use these Cube2’s like organize our DVD Collection or our files in our office, but I think the Cube2 is much too nice to let go unnoticed in that ordinary fashion!
Shadowboxes on the stairs!
My idea is not particularly creative, but it would work wonderfully with these products. I have been wanting to have lockers near the garage in our house, so that my kids have someplace to put their shoes and bags and coats and backpacks.
I’d like to make a bookshelf/doll house for my daughter.
I would use the zboards for our entertainment center. These look strong enough to hold our TV, DVDs and record collection and stereo. I could even put in a few pictures.
I am a music teacher, so I could make a really cool and modern music cabinet to hold all my sheet music.
I would use them to make a great coffe table with a piece of glass on top.
prize cabinets for my kids at church
i would really love a long and short entertainment center, most entertainment centers are tall, but my tv is against a wall with a window, so i still want to be able to see out the window, this would be really great for what i want
I would make a bookshelf.
I would love to use four of the Cube Plus (squared) in green and blue (I love how vibrant the colors are) and turn them on their sides to form a square and put a table top down over the top for a train table/craft table for my kids. It would have storage and function and be way greener (and cheaper!) than those pricey Thomas the Tank Engine ones! Thank you.
i would use one in my living room to hold dvds these are awesome
I would make a storage cabinet the length of the wall for my classroom. I would have one large closet for storage on either side of the unit, I would have student cubbies stacked 4 high on either side of the closet. In the center I’ll have open shelves with art supplies and a section of shelves on wheels with supplies on it that I can move around the room. I don’t know if I described it well but I have the idea in my head.
What a fantastic idea!
I would create a phone nook in an unutilized area such as the corner of the kitchen, or at the end of a hallway, or as part of a larger divider between eating area and living room. Design would be tailored to space available and could be expanded or deleted as required, but would at the least include a simple desk with enclosed shelving above and below and a stool that would fit tidily under the desk. Painted to complement or contrast the room, or in bright primary colors to incorporate a cheerful note, the phone nook could become an effective, useful, and attractive focal point. The addition of decorative touches, such as bright fabric valances, small wall letters as labelling elements, or attractive or whimsical door hardware, would be limited only by my own creativity.
Not built in or permanent, the phone nook could be altered as required, made smaller or more involved, easily relocated in-house, or moved to a different residence where it could then be reassembled in suitable new dimensions.
Way Basics Recycled Paper Furniture is the ultimate in Re-use, Re-cycle, and Re-purpose!
dlcwin[at]gmail[dot]com
We are “greening” up our lunch even more this year and going with Bento (Japanese style lunch) boxes.
While one “could” go simple, I’ve promised to “fancy them up” for the girls at least twice a week. In addition to the boxes themselves, we will be using accessories. Lots and lots of accessories.
I would make a pantry area in my kitchen strictly for bento supplies and have some of it (the prettier boxes and thermoses and containers) open and some of it (the baskets of mostly re-usable accessories, molds, small but not decorative omelet pans,etc.) behind closed doors.
I really think this is a great concept, especially the easy to put together part.
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