Do Natural Stone Countertops Have a Low Carbon Footprint?

Lower Your Carbon Footprint with Natural Stone Countertops
Looking to lower the carbon footprint of your upcoming kitchen or bath redesign? Natural stone countertops make for a green investment, with minimal environmental impact and none of the pollution-inducing off-gassing of commonly fabricated products.

Minimal Manufacturing
Natural stone such as granite, marble, quartzite, limestone, and soapstone, mined from solid rock, are sliced with diamond-tipped blades, then polished. Unlike man made laminate countertops and some engineered stones, the amount of energy used to craft the natural stone slabs for use as countertops is far less, producing relatively few carbon emissions.

Lasting Durability
Beautiful, safe, and relatively easy to maintain, stone countertops have many lasting attributes. With an enviably long lifespan of 30–50+ years, a natural stone counter is likely the last countertop you’ll ever have to buy — especially when compared to the frequent replacement, waste, and exponentially increased carbon footprint of downtrodden laminate. Changing tastes? Upcycle your stone and let someone else put it back into action.

No VOCs
Unlike the pollutants found in a wide range of building materials including laminate countertops, natural stone countertops won’t negatively impact your home’s indoor air quality, and concerns over radon have long since been debunked.

How Can You Ensure the Greenest Natural Stone Purchase Possible?
-Shop local.
Ask your premium stone retailer about countertop options sourced closest to you. Choosing a slab sourced closer to home minimizes the impact of carbon from transportation, making natural stone an increasingly green investment.
-Make use of ‘waste.’
Consider natural stone tile, which is made from the production remnants or natural stone slabs, resulting in less energy use in production, and minimize waste for disposal. If you opt for slabs instead, don’t toss off-cuts. Instead, repurpose waste cuts for other applications, such as seating, tabletops, or matching cutting boards.
-Use a non-toxic sealer.
Talk to your natural stone fabricator about low-VOC, non-toxic sealer options suited to your installation that won’t off-gas harmful pollutants into your home (and ultimately the environment).
-Recycle.
If your tastes changes, don’t toss your countertops. Keep them out of the local landfill by selling or donating them, allowing someone else to give them a new life.

Shop local. View the stunning natural stone collection at your area Granite Imports today.

This was previously published at
http://graniteimports.net/blog/do-natural-stone-countertops-have-a-low-carbon-footprint/