Our Top Eight Eco-Friendly Countertop Options

Top 8 Eco-Friendly Countertop Options

We love our kitchens. They’re the place we go to feed ourselves and our loved ones — a place for telling stories and making connections. Your kitchen surfaces tell a story, too. Why not make sure it’s a story you can be proud to share?

When planning a kitchen build or renovation, there are thousands of countertop materials to consider. Our top ten eco friendly countertop materials are more sustainable and safer to work with than many leading products on the market. If you value sustainability but don’t want to skimp on durability or aesthetic, this is the list for you!

PaperStone– recycled paper and petroleum free resin

PaperStone is one of the most unique surfacing options on the market. Manufactured from recycled paper and petroleum free resin, PaperStone products divert millions of pounds of paper from landfills.

This versatile material comes in multiple sizes and thicknesses. It’s easily cut on-site, making it an ideal material for DIYers and remodelers. Despite being easily cut with woodworking tools, it holds up like stone once installed. PaperStone’s matte finish is a great alternative to traditional glossy stone surfaces.

Gilasi – recycled glass and epoxy

Gilasi diverts tons of glass from landfills, combining recycled post-consumer and post-industrial glass with an aeronautics grade epoxy resin matrix to create durable, stunning slabs.

Made with up to 85% recycled glass by weight, Gilasi is manufactured right here in the USA. Because it uses an epoxy binder rather than cement, it offers a non-porous surface that resists staining and scratching without needing regular sealing.

Durat solid surface– recycled solid surface

Durat is a European-designed, US manufactured recycled plastic surface material. Made from up to 28% post consumer recycled content, Durat has diverted over 200 tons of plastic waste from landfills.

Boasting a high-end, unique aesthetic and over 200 color options, Durat is a great choice for any kitchen. If you’re looking for European inspired design, with colors made right here in America, look no further than Durat!

Valiant Quartz Silica-Free Collection – crystalline silica free quartz

Love the sleek, high-end look of quartz countertops, but looking for a safer, eco-conscious swap? Check out Valiant’s Silica-Free Collection! By ditching crystalline silica entirely, this lineup keeps fabricators and installers safer on the job without cutting corners on aesthetics or performance.

With over 30 gorgeous designs from dramatic, flowing veining to soft, classic neutrals, you get all the scratch and scorch resistance of high-end stone, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

Eclos by Cosentino– recycled glass and resin

Eclos is Cosentino’s latest drop in indoor countertop surfaces, and a perfect low-crystalline silica option with veining that goes all the way through—not just on top. Best of all? It can handle direct heat up to 428°F (yes, hot pots allowed!) while serving up major sustainability points thanks to its zero crystalline silica formula and up to 88% recycled core.

GEOS– recycled glass and resin

Recycled glass and resin surfaces like GEOS are commonly available in big box stores. They are more durable than glass/concrete composite materials, but tend to lack the visual depth of materials like IceStone. Still, the materials are highly durable and attractive while diverting glass from the landfill.

glass2 – fused recycled glass slabs

glass2 surfaces are constructed from 99% recycled glass fused together without resin to produce a sleek, crystal-like aesthetic that is non-porous and highly heat resistant.

glass2 is made of recycled post-consumer and post-industrial glass, eliminating landfill waste while creating a pure, vibrant material that looks great backlit. glass2 surfaces maintain the brilliant luminosity and depth of raw glass, providing a clean modern aesthetic to your kitchen.

Reclaimed Wood – repurposed woods from some other use

We opened this article talking about the stories told around the kitchen counter. What tells a better story than reclaimed wood?

Reclaimed wood is an excellent surface material for those who don’t mind their counters “wearing in”. If you accept the limitations of natural wood (less durable, easier to stain or gouge, likely to change in color and texture over time) it is a great option for rustic and eclectic kitchen design.

Photo Credit: Modera Sostenible

This isn’t an exhaustive list of quality eco friendly countertop materials, but it’s a good place to start your research. If you have any questions about the brands and products listed here today, reach out to us via live chat or email! We are happy to help you understand each product’s features or to track down suppliers nearest to you.