Stone kitchen countertops are not only attractive because of their stunning physical attributes or the level of sophistication they bring to your home, but they also happen to be incredibly sustainable and good for the environment.
Slabs of quarried stone like granite and marble are not in short supply and are highly durable and healthy materials. Once you no longer wish to keep them as your countertop, they can be easily recycled and returned to the earth.
It’s important to keep in mind that the quarrying and transporting of these stones can—not always, but often—occur in unsafe working conditions with underpaid manual labor. If you’re interested in purchasing a stone countertop, try to find a local stone producer and find out exactly how and where the stone came to be quarried and processed.
Let’s discuss a few reasons why stone kitchen countertops are the ideal sustainable option for your kitchen designs.
1. STONE IS A NATURAL AND ABUNDANT MATERIAL
Because stones like granite and marble are a natural product of Mother Earth, it does not require other resources or materials to make it. There is also an abundant supply of stone materials, which allows you to avoid the more depleted resources on our planet, such as wood. Stone’s naturally varying physical characteristics enable it to be applied in various designs.
These natural stones carry no harmful or toxic chemicals, keeping our environment—and your home—healthy. When locally manufactured and extracted, emissions of greenhouse gasses during transportation are also significantly reduced. You can typically find stone quarry sites within a 500-mile radius of most building sites.
2. STONE IS LONG LASTING
One of the most durable materials on the planet, stone can always stand the test of time. Incorporating stone kitchen countertops can positively affect the value of your home and require very little upkeep or redesign. Stones like marble and granite age well and can last as many as fifty to a hundred years, although they are porous and do require yearly sealing to keep out stains.
Because of their durability, there is less of a need to extract these materials so often, only further emphasizing their sustainability and why choosing them is a better option for the planet. Unlike materials that will need to be replaced or repaired more frequently, stone is everlasting.
3. STONE IS RECYCLABLE
The characteristics of natural stone allow it to become repurposed in a multitude of ways outside of a stone kitchen countertop. Salvaged stone from one place can be easily disassembled, reformed, and refinished for things like paving materials or mosaic floor designs. Repurposed stones might even provide a sense of charming nostalgia to your space, depending on what it was once used for.
Using stone that has been recycled helps reduce the energy, water, and other resources that we typically need to manufacture brand-new products from other unsustainable raw materials. This ultimately will avoid the unnecessary disruption of our ecosystems and the consumption of our limited natural resources.
4. STONE IS SUSTAINABLY MANUFACTURED
In most cases, stone materials like granite and marble are ethically and sustainably quarried and manufactured. In fact, with all the technological advancements we’ve made in recent years, the methods of extracting these stones have become much more efficient and cost effective while also minimizing waste and preventing pollution.
As we mentioned earlier, not all stone manufacturers go about the process this way, so it’s important to understand where your stone is coming from if you decide to go this route.
5. STONE IS EASY TO CARE FOR
While stone is quite porous, once sealed, it’s effortless to keep clean. Once finished, stone materials like granite and marble can be kept well with even the mildest soaps and cleaners while using very little water. This also adds to its sustainability advantages because you can avoid harsh or harmful chemicals in cleaners that only contribute to polluting the environment.
READY TO ADD A CUSTOM STONE COUNTERTOP TO YOUR KITCHEN?
If you’re interested in adding a natural granite or marble kitchen countertop, we can certainly help. Our professionals will work with you through every step of the process as we bring your vision to life.
Based in Littleton, Bella Casa Countertops and Stone has served Colorado residents since 2001. We’re ready to help you create the stunning kitchen you’ve been dreaming of. Contact us at 720-702-4991, or reach out online to discuss your project.