New Ventures BC 2009 Finalist (and 2008 Finalist) GR Green Building Materials Inc. is ready to produce North America’s first ‘green’ roofing and siding materials made from naturally abundant limestone and recycled plastic bottles and bags. The Burnaby based company manufactures look-alike cedar and slate roofing tiles don’t crack when nailed, are fire-proof, impact-resistant and cost a fraction of the real thing.
By ensuring nothing is wasted and considering the impact of a product’s life cycle on the environment and people’s lives, GR Green goes beyond sustainability, to environmental responsibility in manufacturing. GR Green’s cedar and slate products are non-toxic, carbon positive and 100% recyclable, after 50 years of use.
Owners Geoff Wensel and Robert Suggitt are engineers and know plastics, construction, and manufacturing. In 2005, using a regular oven and a rolling pin, they invented a process that produces ‘green’ roofing and siding materials like nothing else on the market. Three and a half years later, they’re ready to launch full-scale production in the fall of 2009.