Green Alternatives to Granite Countertops

There are many interesting products available for countertop selection, many made from composite and recycled materials. Typically, a recycled material, such as paper or glass, is combined with resins to form the solid surface. These manufactured surfaces are harder than stone, scratch, stain, and heat resistant, and only a few require maintenance and re-sealing. Most importantly, they are all incredibly eco-friendly.
A few items to keep in mind when sourcing green countertops: find products that use low VOC resins; consider locally-supplied products; and in the case of recycled paper products, look for FSC certification.

Here are a few products to consider:

Richlite is made of paper from FSC-Certified sources and/or recycled paper. The paper is treated with resin then pressed and baked to create solid sheets.

IceStone is made with 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix to create a sustainable concrete surface. It is incredibly durable, but requires sealing and waxing annually.

Vetrazzo is manufactured using a patent-pending composition that combines up to 85% recycled glass with Portland cement, water and proprietary inert ingredients such as minerals, pigments and other non-VOC substances. This product also requires re-sealing when the finish begins to deterriorate.

EnviroSLAB are affordable and unique countertop slabs that are hand made with 100% recycled glass and porcelain mixed with color-customizable resin. The EnviroGLAS product line also offers a number of other recycled products.

PaperStone manufactures three versions of its sustainable countertops. All products are made using petroleum-free resin that contains natural ingredients, such as cashew nut shell liquid. All product finishes are made from natural waxes.

EcoTop is formed from a 50/50 blend of FSC certified post consumer recycled paper and rapidly renewable bamboo fiber, then bound with a new 100% water-based system.

Squak Mountain Stone is a fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and cement. The mixture is then hand-cast into slabs and serves as a great alternative to natural or quarried stone.