How to find the best sustainable countertops

Last updated on June 17th, 2023 at 05:23 pm

This is a guest post by Jared McMillen from The Eco Friend |

Laminate countertops are most often seen in typical kitchens but have you ever wondered if they are eco-friendly? You prepare your food on them daily, so maybe you prefer to use sustainable countertops. Unfortunately, laminate ones contain a lot of formaldehyde, and they aren’t completely durable. So this does not make a sustainable option. 

Laminates are still the most affordable kitchen counters in the market. But some brands make significant efforts to improve countertop quality for a more durable and long-lasting countertop that’s also sustainable. Here, I have mentioned a list of sustainable kitchen countertop options that can make your kitchen green without any significant environmental impact: 

Dekton

Dekton’s slab surfaces contain a blend of glass, quartz, and porcelain. They are sometimes referred to as recycled quartz surfaces. Dekton’s sintered surface countertop resists corrosion, stains, thermal shocks from warm or frozen objects, etcetera. 

Worried about the service life of Dekton counters? Cosentino manufactures Dekton counters, and they provide a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty! Moreover, they come in different shapes and colors.

Altrock

Alrock countertop surfaces combine byproducts of marble manufacturing- marble dust, chips, and chunks. Altrock slabs are cast by hands then sealed with a wax oil that looks like a matte finish. 

Altrock’s wax finish makes it durable enough to resist heat and cold, or other adverse situations. Altrocks are commonly used in kitchens, though you can also use them for bathrooms, flooring, dining, or coffee tables.  

Altrock countertops are available in a wide range of colors. Moreover, the background can be customized to match your palette. However, since it is made from reclaimed marble, some colors might be rare to find.

Durat

Durat solid countertops are made by utilizing waste materials and recycled plastic. Solid Durat surface contains 30% recycled plastic collected from medical and cell phone industries. Therefore, this option is 100% recyclable. 

Durat surfaces are very durable, making them resistant to heat, cold, wear, and various types of harsh chemicals. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about the scratches; you can remove them with a quick polish. 

Durat offers more than 300 standard background colors in various colors and allows custom options for you. For regular care, you can clean Durat surfaces with a mild soap-based solution. Moreover, we recommend using normal soft clothes for wiping the surface.

GEOS

GEOS countertop surfaces provide a more durable surface than some concrete countertop surfaces. However, GEOS lack depth compared to concrete surfaces as they use petroleum-based or epoxy resins. 

This is still eco-friendly as the glass is reused to make GEOS countertops and not in a landfill. In addition, they are available in vibrant colors and designs to match your kitchen.

Richlite

Richlite countertops are manufactured from 65% FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) recycled paper and 35% resin. Richlite is available in sheets up to 5 feet by 12 feet.

Richlite has excellent head and fire resistance and can withstand heat up to 350° Fahrenheit. Richlite will show scratches or patina over time. However, Richlite is available in three color options. 

Richlite is a stain-resistant surface. However, some items like papayas, red beets, and red wine might cause stains. There’s one hack you can try: to lighten them, apply yogurt, leave it overnight and wipe it in the morning. Repeat it three to four times, and your stain shall be removed hopefully.

Teragren

Teragren uses Moso bamboo, one of the most durable bamboo species with dense fibers, to make countertops ideal for multiple lumber applications. In addition, the qualities of Teragren products make them suitable for LEED certification. 

These countertop surfaces are ideal for kitchens or bathrooms. And they are available in traditional bamboo or strand bamboo with a bamboo core. Teragren surfaces are durable and hard enough. However, we don’t recommend cutting over them due to the material’s potential to dull knives.

Windfall

Windfall makes dependable and durable lumber products designed and manufactured in Olympia, Washington. The majority of their lumber products are FSC-recycled. 

Windfall is a US-Green Building partner. The surfaces combine a variety of Pacific Northwest woods, making them durable, fabulous, and long-lasting.

Stainless Steel Kitchens

Steel countertops from Stainless Steel Kitchens are made from 18-gauge finish stainless steel and backed with 5/8″-thick marine plywood to provide you the best quality in sanitation. Moreover, they make your kitchen look more fabulous and bright. 

They provide you with an optional integral sink, integral backsplashes, cutouts for sinks, radius corners, and more to make the perfect countertop for your purpose. Stainless Steel Kitchen Inc. is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Silestone

Silestone Eco counters work as a beautiful, environmentally friendly alternative to the countertops available on the market. They are manufactured using between 50% and 75% recycled porcelain, glass, and mirrors. 

The resins used for manufacturing Silestone Eco are GreenGuard certified. Additionally, to avoid wastage, 94% of the water used for manufacturing Silestone is reused again.

IceStone

IceStone came to light with a motive to make something beautiful out of waste glass. Have you ever wondered how beneficial this would turn to the earth if anyone initiates to convert waste glasses into something useful? 

From 2003 to 2021, IceStone has delivered over 13 million pounds of waste glass from landfills and converted them into beautiful products, including countertops. IceStone products are manufactured using three basic ingredients: 100% recycled glass, portland cement, and non-toxic pigments.

Conclusion 

Now that you have the list of eco-friendly, non-toxic countertop manufacturing companies, you can choose yourself. Choosing a sustainable countertop surface does not only help the earth; eco-friendly countertop brands are also more durable than other brands. And they provide you some extra features too.

Therefore, if you are replacing your countertop or renovating your kitchen, switch to eco-friendly and green countertops from the above brands to obtain the best quality. Among all the options out there, you’d be able to choose your ideal countertop based on your requirements.