10 Green Countertops

With phrases like global warming, greenhouse effect and sustainable management being tossed around in everyday headlines, more people are focusing on the effects of their actions. It's not just about what global manufacturing companies are doing to help or hurt the environment, it's also about what people do in their everyday activities -- driving to work, cleaning their bathrooms, shopping for groceries.

So it's no wonder that eco-friendly home-building and renovation has become an entire industry, causing suppliers and homeowners to do things differently. If you follow any home design shows, magazines or Web sites, you know that the biggest projects, whether they're new construction or renovations, are often in the kitchen. It just makes sense that homeowners would be interested in how to incorporate green living into this popular living and working space.
There are lots of options to consider when you're comparing how "green" a product is. There isn't one single green standard, and most of us aren't environmental experts. So when you're looking at the green factor, a good rule of thumb is to consider three different positions: what's in the product; what did it take to produce it and get it to me; and what happens to it when I'm done with it? Using these three questions, you can do your research and decide what fits your needs and your desire to be environmentally conscious. To help, we're going to examine 10 green countertop options.



10. Terrazzo

Terrazzo is crushed up stone and glass, held together by a binding agent. The countertop is then buffed for a nice smooth surface. You can color or stain the terrazzo for a custom finish and it's a pretty look, so you'll get lots of style points.

So, how green is terrazzo? If the product is made locally, you cut out transportation costs, which is good because terrazzo is heavy to transport. You can also use terrazzo made from recycled glass, in which case you eliminate the energy needed to obtain new stone or glass. Recycled materials are great because you are taking something that is destined for a landfill and using it again. That definitely ranks high on the green scale.
One disadvantage to watch out for with terrazzo -- the binding agents can sometimes release VOCs, volatile organic chemicals. These chemicals can potentially emit hazardous fumes into the air that can cause health issues. It is available, however, with a cement binder made from fly ash, a by-product of burning coal. Fly ash would otherwise be landfill material, so using that type of cement binder eliminates the VOC issue and also recycles the fly ash.
Terrazzo is great because it has a long life-span, but what happens after that? Unfortunately, it can't be recycled, so it ends up as waste. Weigh the green positives and negatives of terrazzo, but don't make any decisions until you read about some other options.

9. Plastic

You don't typically think of plastics when you're thinking about environmentally friendly products. And your traditional plastic countertops are not very green -- they're usually made from a lot of non-renewable resources. Additionally, making plastic uses a lot of chemicals and the entire process is energy intensive. So, why are we even considering plastic countertops on our list? Because you can alter how green the countertops are by what materials you choose.
Plastic can be recycled, so you can choose a countertop that has a high percentage of recycled plastic. This old plastic would already be on its way to a landfill or dump, so reusing it in a countertop is a good move. Did you know that you can find plastics that are even made with old yogurt containers? Another benefit of recycled plastic is that they don't release VOCs.
There is a downside, however. This type of countertop, while made from recycled materials, cannot be recycled again, so even though you saved the plastic once, you won't be so lucky again.

8. Recycled Paper

Before you think a paper countertop pushes the limits of environmental friendliness, let's discuss what exactly it is. It is actually a paper composite countertop, meaning it is made of paper and other materials, including recycled wood, that are mixed with a binder, usually resin or cement. The end result looks like natural stone.
Now, let's assess the green attributes. You want to use as much recycled paper as possible; after all, you are minimizing what goes to the landfill. Additionally, you can use wood products, like pulp, from forests that are sustainable, or renewable resources that can be replenished almost as soon as they are cut. Put these two together -- recycled and renewable resources -- and you've got yourself a very green product.
Before you pat yourself on the back, though, consider the resin used in the countertop. If possible, use a resin that is low- or no-VOC. The resin is just a small percentage of the overall countertop, but anything you can do to help makes a difference.
The final question is what happens when you're done with the countertop. Unfortunately, the addition of the resin, a type of plastic, makes the finished countertop non-recyclable. But it can be re-used, or have portions re-used, which extends its lifespan.
So, if you can make a countertop from recycled paper, what other recycled materials are suitable for countertops?

7. Recycled Aluminum

Before you start getting worried, this is not a countertop made out of aluminum foil. The recycled pieces are actually aluminum scrap that would otherwise be thrown away. Instead of being discarded, the aluminum is mixed with a polyester resin to create a nice, smooth surface countertop.
Like any product where you use a resin or some sort of binder, you want to check on the amount of VOC emissions; less is more. But it's the opposite for the aluminum itself; you want a high percentage of recycled aluminum. With some of the brands on the market today, as much as 90 percent of the aluminum is recycled, which should definitely make you feel environmentally responsible.
Another bonus about the recycled aluminum countertop is that it should be able to be recycled again at the end of its lifespan, provided the manufacturer did not use other substances or finishes that are "less green" in the production. Again, if you do your research, you can know exactly what is in your countertop.

6. Wood

For many consumers, it's easy to assume that natural wood is the best and greenest choice for a countertop. But, as with the other products, you want to investigate and ask the right questions.
Ideally, you want to use salvaged or reclaimed wood. This cuts down on the need to harvest new wood. If you can't use reclaimed wood, the best choice is untreated wood from sustainable, local forests, which minimizes the costs and energy needed for transportation.
Of course, the wood isn't the only thing to consider. If you use a sealer or cleaner on the wood, go with a low-VOC emission product. Additionally, wood countertops may have a laminate on top, and often, these laminates contain formaldehyde. Look for a laminate that has a minimal amount of formaldehyde in it, or even better, one that is formaldehyde-free.
Once all of that has passed your inspection, you'll have a great-looking countertop that has a high green standard. And, the good news is that when you're ready to remodel again, your wood countertop can be recycled.

5. Laminate

Laminate is not always the environmentalist's first choice. Here's why: To make a laminate countertop, paper that has been saturated with a resin is compressed at very high temperatures. Next it is glued to a backing -- usually particleboard or plywood -- and then glued to a cabinet box. Unfortunately, all of that glue and resin can be bad for the environment, not to mention the number of trees that have to be cut down and processed to get the amount of paper required.

So, how can you green it up? First, you can use a high percentage of recycled plastics and recycled paper to make up the surface. Additionally, you can obtain the paper from forests that have sustainable management guidelines; they don't wipe out the forests when they harvest the wood. For the glues, you want to use something that is non-toxic and has low- or no-VOC content. Or, you can use mechanical fasteners and omit the glue process all together.
One thing to note: Laminate countertops cannot be recycled, so they will eventually end up in a landfill. So, you saved the paper and plastics once, but know that eventually it will all end up as waste.
Laminate does offer a big cost advantage over other countertops. If it's an option you're considering, it's good to know how to do it "green."

4. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is another material you may not have considered as very eco-friendly. After all, it is a mix of several different metals that have to be mined, including nickel, steel and chromium. The mining alone is a disruptive, energy-intensive process that makes stainless steel less than green.

But things are not always as they seem. Did you know that you can find stainless steel that contains up to 65, 80 and even 100 percent recycled materials? And even though stainless steel recycling takes energy to do, it is a fraction of what is needed to extract the metals through virgin mining.
With stainless steel countertops, you don't have to worry about what environmentalists refer to as "offgas" or emission of VOCs from the actual countertop. Additionally, you can use mechanical fasteners to attach the countertops so you don't have resins or glues or other chemicals affecting air quality.
When you're finished with your stainless steel countertop and ready to remodel again, the countertop can be recycled and reused again, another huge plus. All told, you can feel pretty good about going green with stainless steel countertops.

3. Tile

In looking at tile, especially from a green standpoint, you want to look at both ceramic tile and glass tile. Let's discuss these two products.
Ceramic tile is made of clay, sand and minerals that get fired, glazed, fired again and then finished -- a very energy-intensive process, starting with mining of the minerals. So, what can you do to raise the green factor in ceramic tile? For starters, you can use recycled materials. Additionally, look for tile that is produced locally to cut down on the transportation costs. Ceramic tile has little to no VOC emissions, so there are no worries regarding air quality. But you should investigate imported tiles because there are different guidelines in different countries, and some imported tiles have been known to have lead-based glazes.
Glass tile is often the preferred green countertop of choice because the glass itself can be made from 100 percent recycled materials. The glass recycling process, called sintering, is much less energy-intensive than making glass tiles from new materials.
There are some downsides to using glass tile though; like ceramic, it's heavy to transport, so buy it locally if you can. And with both glass and ceramic tile countertops, the tiles are hard to remove at the end of the counter's lifecycle, and once you remove them, it's difficult to use them again; terrazzo is one of the better uses for ceramic and glass tiles.

2. Concrete

When you think of concrete, eco-friendly is probably not a word that comes to mind. But, if you examine it more closely, it can be a good green option.
Concrete is a mix of water, cement and usually something like sand. The cement is what raises the eyebrows of environmentally-conscientious people. Making and distributing cement is very energy intensive; in fact, global cement production accounts for anywhere from 2 to 8.5 percent of man-made carbon dioxide released in the air.
The good news for concrete is that cement is only a small percent, around 12 percent, of concrete countertops, and a material called fly ash can actually be used in its place. Fly ash is a residue created from burning coal, and in the concrete-forming process, fly ash becomes an inert substance. So there is no possibility that it will emit VOCs or other toxins into the air. Another positive for concrete is that using a sealant to protect the surface will not create any "offgas" effects; it just increases your counter's durability.
Speaking of durability, when the concrete countertop has done its job, it is very easy to use it again. The concrete can be crushed, cut up into pieces or reused as whole slabs again. This is an excellent benefit because you eliminate the need to produce new concrete. So, the reusability of concrete gives it green points.