In recent years, we’ve all become more aware of the environmental impact of our daily choices, from our carbon footprints to our garbage footprints. While some eco-friendly choices are obvious and simple to implement, like biking or carpooling to work or getting a recycling bin, it can be more difficult to evaluate our choices when it comes to things like building a new home or renovating. While we don’t claim to have all the answers on this complex subject, there are some countertop materials that we can recommend if you’re looking to be environmentally conscious when putting in a new countertop.
Soapstone
Not only is soapstone gorgeous and a natural stone, it is 100 percent recyclable. So, if you put in soapstone countertops and then decide a few years down the road to put in new ones, the material can be recycled without contributing any waste to our growing landfills.
Curava Recycled Glass
Curava is a brand of countertops and showers made from 100 percent recycled glass, making them a solid choice for the eco-friendly. The average Curava countertop contains over 1250 recycled glass bottles, with 25 recycled glass bottles per square foot. These countertops are beautiful and unique, and they’re also high performance: stain resistant, scratch resistant, heat resistant, easy to clean, easy to maintain and non-porous.
Quartz
While quartz isn’t a recycled material, natural stone, or totally recyclable countertop, it does have one big thing going for it in terms of eco-friendliness: quartz, the material that the countertop is made of, is the most abundant mineral on Earth. There’s little danger that we’ll run out of quartz, and it’s so abundant and easy to access and obtain that it doesn’t require the same mining practices necessary to obtain granite, marble, or any other natural stones.
Other Recycled and Recyclable Materials
There are numerous unique, alternative options for environmentally friendly countertops, ranging from recyclable natural materials, like bamboo butcher block to salvaged or repurposed logs or hardwoods. Recycled/repurposed porcelain tile is a popular option, as well. Another interesting route is recycled paper combined with resin to form a countertop material, available from a few different producers.
Your new kitchen or updated bathroom shouldn’t rack you with guilt for ruining the environment. There are options that are more environmentally sound than traditional countertop materials, and they can help you do your part to protect the land that you love while also creating a home that you love.
If you’re looking for gorgeous countertops that meet your standards for eco-friendliness, Kowalski Granite & Quartz has a variety of options to meet your needs. Stop by our showroom today!