CLEAN, GREEN KIREI
by Jill Fehrenbacher
Could there be a natural material as sustainable and lovely as bamboo? In fact, there is something out there even more eco-friendly, called Kirei board. Kirei (”Ke-rai”) is a Japanese word which translates roughly as “Clean” and “Beautiful”.
Kirei is manufactured from reclaimed agricultural fiber from the Sorghum plant grown around the world for food. The stalks of this plant are usually burned or thrown into landfills after harvest. By using them in the production of Kirei Board, this material is removed from the waste stream, reducing landfill need and air pollution, while giving rural farmers a new source of revenue from a previously unused waste material.
Not only is it efficient and good for the environment, but Kirei is extremely strong, lightweight, and durable - not to mention beautiful - with its unique organic grain pattern. Kirei can be used in just about anything: from floors, to walls, to furniture. I first spotted Kirei at ICFF, in this beautiful Iannone:Sanderson coffee table.
The Kirei company specializes in Kirei board, but is also working on developing other sustainable, non-toxic building materials.
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Love reading your blog, anyway I took a look at their dealer list. None listed for the NorthEast. Applications look great though.