ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a highly resistant laminate banding which is abrasion resistant, impact resistant, mechanically and thermally resilient and ecologically sound to boot. One of the newer materials on the market for edge banding, ABS shares characteristics with PVC (a close competitor in the same arena), but plastics are known to be notoriously environmentally unfriendly. Happily, unlike PVC, the lack of chlorine in the makeup of ABS means that it’s acid free, and therefore far more environmentally friendly, as these kinds of acids are routinely responsible for the worst sorts of environmental damage. It's also lighter in composition and lower in density, despite still offering a high-quality protection for your laminate worktops.

One of the very foremost advantages of ABS edging is its versatile and consistent levels of resistance. It's hardwearing, and can absorb the impacts of most casual knocks and bumps without leaving a scratch, making it particularly useful in frantic family households. It's also strongly resistant to household chemicals or spills, and can easily tolerate relatively high levels of heat without shrinking or otherwise becoming damaged.

Another thing that makes ABS edging such an attractive option for many kitchen worktops is its environmental friendliness, which we've already touched on above. Because of the lack of chloride in its composition, it can be burnt without issue (usually in an industrial-grade incinerator) and disposed of immediately, without leaving any harmful materials or any noxious by-products. Usually, plastics and similar materials produce harmful smoke when burned, the particles of which can be harmful for the ozone layer as well as being directly harmful to the health of humans and animals. ABS not only produces none of this hazardous smoke, but also the ease of which it burns means there's less energy expended, making it more energy efficient overall. This same quality means that it's also recyclable, and can be melted down and used to create other plastic products, and unlike most plastics it's even biodegradable. As a final pleasant bonus, ABS edging is reasonably inexpensive – especially given the numerous benefits it provides – and can be a fantastic economically-sound way to ensure the longevity of your kitchen worktops.