Green countertop options are growing more and more popular due to their sustainable characteristics and unique aesthetic properties. Below is a brief discussion on a few of the green countertop options on the market today.
Concrete Countertops
Concrete is essentially a mixture of cement, crushed aggregate, sand, and water. Since concrete is so readily available, concrete countertops can be produced closer to their final destination which greatly reduces the amount of inbedded energy relative to other countertop options. Concrete tops are also poured to dimension (as opposed to being cut from slabs of stone) which decreases waste material. What’s more, concrete countertops are completely customizable. An infinite number of colors and exposed aggregate styles are available, as are integrated sink options which can come in many forms such as ramp sinks, wave sinks, and erosion sinks.
It’s very important to remember that concrete countertops are only as good as the artisan. Every artisan has their own methodology and it’s very important to check references and see their work first hand. At House+Earth, concrete countertops are produced by an Austin area artisan.
concrete countertop with an integrated ramp sink
Wood Countertops
Wood countertops can come in several different sustainable forms. Wood countertops can come from reclaimed wood, that is, wood taken from an existing structure and turned into a countertop, or woods from sustainably managed forests. There are several forestry certification systems that make sure forests are responsibly managed i.e., no clear cutting, no old growth trees, no damage to natural ecosystems, etc… The most well known is FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certification. This certification provides chain of custody tracking from the forest through manufacture to the end consumer.
At House+Earth we carry reclaimed white oak countertops, FSC certified Teak that is plantation grown in Mexico (as opposed to Burmese Teak which is taken from rain forests in SE Asia and also serves to fund a brutal political regime), and Texas mesquite (a nuisance brush that decreases precious ground and surface water supplies in the State of Texas). The attached picture is of another countertop that we carry made from several species of reclaimed wood that otherwise would have headed to the landfill.
salvaged wood scraps were used to produce this beautiful island countertop
Glass Aggregate Countertops
There are many recycled glass aggregate countertop manufactures in the United States today. Most of the manufacturers use between 70-80% post consumer recycled glass (from sources such as car windshields, glass bottles, salvaged windows, etc..) suspended in a cement based medium. The glass typically makes up about 80% of the countertop by weight. Stylistically these glass aggregate countertops can come in bold colors with large pieces of glass or more subtle shades with finer, more consistent glass aggregate throughout. There are plenty of styles to suit most looks.
At House+Earth we carry Vetrazzo, Gilasi, and a locally manufactured top that uses only post-consumer recycled glass from the Austin waste stream. A widely available line that we carry is called Eco which combines recycled glass with recycled ceramic to form a look more comparable to granite than some of the other glass aggregate lines.
Recycled glass aggregate countertop from Vetrazzo
Bamboo Countertops
Bamboo countertops are fast becoming a popular option for countertops. From planting to harvest in 6 years, bamboo is considered a rapidly renewable species and several manufacturers are producing some really cool tops at affordable prices. From an end grain bamboo butcher block countertop to a caramelized strand woven bamboo countertop, bamboo can achieve a number of looks, even looks that aren’t immediately distinguishable as traditional bamboo.
strand bamboo countertop from Teragren
Other options
A company called TorZo produces a countertop made from compressed sorghum stalk which is taken from the waste stream after it has been processed for its nutritional content. While less popular than the above mentioned countertops, it is nevertheless very aesthetically unique and testament to a rapidly growing green countertop industry. The same company also manufactures a countertop made from sunflower hull.
Other considerations
We’ve just discussed countertops from a composition stand point. A truly “green” countertop needs to also take into account the products that are used to finish and seal the countertop. Indoor air quality is a huge consideration when identifying healthy and sustainable products to put into your home. Consumers need to specify that their countertops be finished with low or non-emitting materials. Suggested helpful resources include the California Air Resources Board standards or one of the LEED rating systems (or House+Earth!).
House+Earth 