Countertops with a clean conscience

There are plenty of options out there when it comes to installing new counters in your kitchen. But green options are few and far between--even if you're doing your best to make your kitchen sustainable, it's hard to find a good options. And if you want your kitchen to look good, it's even harder. ECO by Cosentino provides an alternative that is both green and attractive, however. The counter tops are made from materials that have reached the end of their life cycle, meaning that they would otherwise wind up in a landfill. Those materials include mirrors, glass, and porcelain salvaged from recycling, construction, and other sources. The process used to produce the counter tops is also sustainable: among other factors, 94 percent of the water used in the process is recycled. Emissions are also minimized.

ECO by Cosentino offers counter tops in a variety of colors, including Polar Cap, Starlight, Crystal Sand, and Black Forest. You can purchase samples of various colors of the counter tops, for $4.95 per 4-inch square. The manufacturer also offers flooring and wall finishing materials, if you're looking to match your counters closely to the rest of your kitchen. The counter tops are available in both slabs (63 inches by 128 inches) and in standard size tiles.