A green kitchen begins with the most eco-friendly countertop. You want something that is as durable or beautiful as Corian or granite, but measures up to the highest standards for your family’s health and the environment. Luckily, many products you thought were not “green” may actually surprise you, as more countertop companies are now making their entire manufacturing operations sustainable.
However, out of the slew of options out there, there are a few that are not so eco-friendly. Granite, marble, quartz, engineered stone, and laminates are usually not the most sustainable. The use of raw materials is the biggest factor here. Granite, for example, requires lots of energy and disruption of land to be mined. Engineered stone, comprised of quartz, shares this negative impact on the environment, and additionally uses some harsh pigments in its production. Most of your traditional options use sealants with VOCs and other environmental contaminants. Another issue with granite is the risk of radon radiation into your home.
So what options are out there for the health and eco-conscious? The coolest alternatives are surfaces made from recycled materials, most notably glass. Companies like IceStone and Vetrazzo have paved the way for extremely durable, beautiful countertops made from at least 75% recycled glass with a concrete composite. IceStone is particularly committed to green design; it has been awarded the coveted MBDC Cradle to Cradle award for the thoroughness of its sustainable practices.
In addition to glass, other recycled products can be transformed into your kitchen surface. One company, called Paperstone, uses compressed recycled paper and petroleum-free resins made from cashew nuts! You wouldn’t think paper would act as a very resilient countertop, but this product is actually incredibly durable and has received great ratings.
What about wood and concrete? Concrete is a bit less expensive, very heat resistant and can be morphed into any shape you desire. It is also considered to be “green” by many sources, as recycled aggregate is often used. Its also much easier to chose your own sealer: low VOC-emitting sealants are easy to find. Wood surfaces are generally durable and easy to clean; they are also available with forest products certified by FSC, making them just as green as the recycled glass.
The key to finding an eco-friendly surface is to be prepared for the maze of impressive sounding eco-labels. To be competitive, all top-of-the-line countertop companies are saying they’re “green” in some way. This is particularly true with the granite, quartz and marble countertop manufacturers, who may have made some green steps in their operations, but at the end of the day, mining is still incredibly environmentally unfriendly. Make sure you do the research on all of the eco certifications before you are greenwashed into thinking a product is completely sustainable.
Over the past few years we’ve been hit by a wave of new eco-friendly product labels, designed to help consumers pick out the most sustainable brands. But in the long list of certifications, one of them stands out as the most comprehensive: Cradle to Cradle.
Pioneers in the realm of sustainable design and green building, architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart have started one of the most all-inclusive product certifications. Made famous by their book by the same name, published in 2002, their entire approach to sustainability trumps all others because they envision products that can be entirely recycled or biodegraded at the end of their life cycle.
What’s more, a product can only be certified by Cradle to Cradle if the company adheres to principles of social justice in its relationship with employees and the community at large. One of the founding principles of the C2C philosophy is that industry and the environment can be compatible; capitalism and ecological goals can and should work simultaneously in the new industrial age. Waste does not need to exist. Smart design is good for the planet, the people, and the economy. They call it the New Industrial Revolution.
Cradle to Cradle has concentrated its efforts on certifying green building products, although one of its most recognized customers is the U.S. Postal Service, which uses paper and a manufacturing process that are incredibly sustainable. Its green building companies include Steelcase, ACCO brands, TimberSIL Wood Products, Centria, Herman Miller Inc., and Eagle Corporation concrete products. From small to large, companies the world over have to meet extremely rigorous qualifications to get this prestigious certification.
Take IceStone LLC, a Brooklyn-based company that manufactures countertops from reclaimed glass and operates by a triple-bottom line approach to business (people, profit, and planet). What exactly did they have to do to get their Silver Cradle to Cradle product certification? The five main categories in the criteria program are material health (i.e. no harmful chemicals), material reutilization (i.e. can it be recycled at the end of its lifecycle?), water usage in the manufacturing process, energy use, and social responsibility. The company must generate or buy a significant portion of its energy from clean sources. The water used in the industrial process must be limited to grey water systems and have strict chemical quality standards.
From a design standpoint, the material reutilization component is one of the most interesting and challenging; most companies haven’t received the Gold rating yet because designing for complete reintegration into the environment is something very new in industry. Still, all Cradle to Cradle products like IceStone countertops have been given a thorough life-cycle analysis and take the environment into account at every step of the industrial process, from manufacturing to shipping to how well the company treats its employees. Most eco-labels are not yet this comprehensive.
McDonough and Braungart have a special interest in materials and surfaces, from carpets to house siding. Centria is a C2C-certified brand that specializes in roofing and siding materials. Its innovative roof panels, for example, are not only made with recycled materials and meet the rigorous manufacturing qualifications, but their insulating capacities will increase the energy efficiency of the building they’re installed on. The company’s EcoScreen products are perforated screen walls that provide air circulation and ventilation for indoor or outdoor applications.
Cradle to Cradle’s innovation in design, sustainability and industrial philosophy have helped it become recognized as one of the most comprehensive and prestigious certification systems available.
A green kitchen begins with the most eco-friendly countertop. You want something that is as durable or beautiful as Corian or granite, but measures up to the highest standards for your family’s health and the environment. Luckily, many products you thought were not “green” may actually surprise you, as more countertop companies are now making their entire manufacturing operations sustainable.
So what options are out there for the health and eco-conscious? The coolest alternatives are surfaces made from recycled materials, most notably glass. Companies like IceStone and Vetrazzo have paved the way for extremely durable, beautiful countertops made from at least 75% recycled glass with a concrete composite. IceStone is particularly committed to green design; it has been awarded the coveted MBDC Cradle to Cradle award for the thoroughness of its sustainable practices.
The key to finding an eco-friendly surface is to be prepared for the maze of impressive sounding eco-labels. To be competitive, all top-of-the-line countertop companies are saying they’re “green” in some way. This is particularly true with the granite, quartz and marble countertop manufacturers, who may have made some green steps in their operations, but at the end of the day, mining is still incredibly environmentally unfriendly. Make sure you do the research on all of the eco certifications before you are greenwashed into thinking a product is completely sustainable.
Pioneers in the realm of sustainable design and green building, architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart have started one of the most all-inclusive product certifications. Made famous by their 
