Eco-friendly Kitchenset Options For Sustainable Living – Over the years, in my Interior Design career, I have specified, tried and tested almost every countertop option on the market. The big question is – How can you choose sustainable kitchen countertop materials, and what are the pros and cons of each?
For me, choosing a sustainable countertop includes many ideas, but only a few main criteria:
Eco-friendly Kitchenset Options For Sustainable Living
As always, the most sustainable countertop options are those made from reclaimed materials or reusing existing worktops. However, if this is not viable for you, there are ways to minimize the environmental impact when choosing a new countertop product.
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No countertop meets all the criteria, but some are better than others! You need to weigh the pros and cons, and I hope this article will help you do that.
Solid wood is a sustainable countertop material because it is natural, renewable, long-lasting, and biodegradable or recyclable at the end of its life. To be truly eco-friendly, choose locally sourced wood; forest responsibility; constructed with plant-based glue; and finished with 100% natural oils.
Side note: Did you know that including natural wood and other natural elements in your home can improve your well-being?
Natural stone countertops, such as marble or granite, have several sustainable qualities: It is a natural material and extremely long-lasting. It is important to choose responsibly sourced local stone. However, stone is a finite resource, and mining has a negative environmental impact.
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We recommend a 100% natural oil finish for stone surfaces. [*Always try a sample section to make sure you’re happy with the finish]
Sintered Stone (Ultra-Compact Surface) is a fairly durable countertop material made from 100% crushed natural stone. It is extremely durable, plastic-free, and recyclable. While stone is a non-renewable resource, brands such as Dekton and Neolith contain a good proportion of recycled content.
Engineered Stone Countertops, commonly known as ‘Quartz’, are completely unsustainable as they are made from plastic resin mixed with crushed quartz. While they have a long life, they are made from non-renewable materials, and the plastic component means that the product will not biodegrade.
Stainless Steel is a sustainable countertop surface material because it is durable and recyclable. To be truly environmentally friendly, ensure the substrate backing is a natural eco-board product with bio-based glue, instead of standard plywood that cannot be degraded and contains formaldehyde.
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Copper is a sustainable countertop surface material because it is durable and recyclable. In order to be truly environmentally friendly, ensure the backing substrate is a natural eco-board product with bio-based glue, instead of standard plywood which is non-biodegradable and contains formaldehyde.
Solid surface countertops are not sustainable because they are a (petroleum) based plastic product. While these materials are durable, they are non-renewable, non-degradable and contribute to the global plastic pollution crisis.
Porcelain countertops are quite sustainable as they are durable products made from natural materials (combination of clay and crushed stone). However, stone is a non-renewable resource, and the thin size of the slab means that it is often built on a particleboard substrate, which is not environmentally friendly.
Concrete countertops are quite sustainable due to their extremely long lifespan and ability to be recycled at the end of their life. However, epoxy resin countertop sealer, as well as the concrete production process have a negative environmental impact.
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Recommended for 100% natural oil finish for concrete surfaces. [*Always try a sample section to make sure you’re happy with the finish]
Laminate countertops are not sustainable because they are made of plastic, are non-biodegradable, cannot be recycled, and contain formaldehyde. The thin surface layer is plastic (petroleum based), and the substrate is usually particle board (wood mixed with plastic resin).
So there we have it, folks! We hope this will be a useful resource for anyone trying to choose sustainable kitchen countertops. Whether you are in the process of creating or renovating a kitchen in your own home, we also help designers and architects working on residential and commercial projects.
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