Making big changes to your home can be both exciting and confusing, especially when it comes to the kitchen. As the hard-working heart of the home, there’s usually a bit of added pressure to spruce up this space, and the task becomes even more challenging when you’re searching for pieces that are environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
To make your renovation a little less bewildering, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite kitchen countertops that are certifiably eco-chic.
1) Eco and Elegant
As insinuated in the name, ECO countertops by Cosentino are made of 75% recycled materials, including mirror, glass, porcelain, earthenware and vitrified ash, and then bound by an environmentally friendly corn resin. Even 94% of the water used in its manufacturing process is re-used.
What we love about ECO is the wide variety of colors and finishes the surfaces come in. And they are maintenance friendly, too—no need for sealers or worrying about scratching or scorching. These countertops also carry the Cradle to Cradle certification that focuses on promoting brands that have a long life cycle, promote material health and reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness. When it comes to countertops, we’ve dubbed ECO certifiably chic.
2) Sleek and Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a heavily sought after countertop because it’s easy to care for and clean. What most people don’t know, though, is that with a steel laminate countertop by a manufacturer like Wilsonart, while the sheets are wear and scuff resistant, they are also GREENGUARD certified. The steel laminate contains post-consumer recycled content and doesn’t emit volatile organic compounds into the environment.
3) Barrage of Bamboo
Bamboo makes a beautiful surface for kitchens and bathrooms and is environmentally conscious at the same time. While being fashion forward, bamboo countertops are also amazingly water resistant, requiring little upkeep. It’s a rapidly renewable resource, so don’t hesitate to add it to every counter in your home. When looking for this type of countertop, be sure to get materials certified by The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a group that ensures wood products and by-products come from certified harvesting areas to protect wildlife and consumers in forested lands.
From natural and earthy to bright and clean, these countertops create a focal point for a space that beautifully supports the home and its activities. Look for these sustainable materials and the appropriate certifications to create an environmentally conscious space that is all your own.
About the author
Kerrie Kelly is an interior designer and founder of Kerrie Kelly Design Labs. She provides useful eco-friendly kitchen design advice for The Home Depot. View all of The Home Depot’s options for countertops.