Always check where the product is coming from. It is no longer "green" if it has to be shipped across the country.

I've seen IceStone installed. It's very attractive, with a nice lucency ( terrazzo effect, but not so opaque). Can't speak to durability, though.

I was seriously considering recycled glass for my new (tiny) kitchen. Unfortunately, even at the home improvement megastore, it was right up there with the most expensive granite and would have cost me nearly $6000 versus $1000 for formica. And at the independent kitchen designer's - $10,000!!! Until the prices come down, it's still (for me) just a great idea.

I was shocked a the prices of this stuff. It costs as much as marble. It also is very busy looking. I think people fall in love with the sample but when it is applied to 20 sq. ft. of counters, it usually dominates the design of the kitchen and is not my favorite look.

I had considered the recycled glass too as I liked the idea. I also concluded that it was far too pricey and agree that it can be busy looking as well. A sample is one thing, but applied to a larger area it can overwhelm the space.

I've seen the counter in picture #1 and it is georgeous but as everyone else has posted, a bit too rich for my blood even in a very small condo kitchen. I may wait until the prices come down because I really would like to have that one installed. I'm not ready financially to redo the kitchen so maybe time will be on my side.

What are your thoughts on the "green-ness" of poured concrete counter tops? They strike me as "more green" than granite or quartz since I'm guessing it's easier to take the "stuff" concrete is made of (whatever that is) out of the earth than to slice stone out of a quarry, lug it around, and cut it to shape. Do any of you guys know? I agree with the posters above - the recycled stuff is pretty expensive so maybe concrete is an "in-between" greener option than granite/quartz/marble?

What about Paperstone? I have heard of it, but don't know anything about it in terms of cost. It looks kind of like a high school science lab table top to me.

@sthaas-- I fooled around with a sample of paper stone when i was looking at counters last year (yep, it was that same black from the science labs of old), and I was impressed how repairable it is. It is soft enough to show a scratch, but you can wipe that out with a spray (I don't remember if it was an oil or glycerine based spray, or what). Because it does have some give, you aren't going to chip it, and I suspect it would be less likely to chip or shatter plates and glasses dropped on it. The feel of it is warm, so for anyone turned off by the chill of stone tops, it could be a good choice. It sells well where I live.

I agree with others who say the pattern is too busy. It really is, unless it's a more subtle color like the one in the fourth photo.

@ GOGOHOLTHOUSE, shipping Gilasi from Chicago to your doorstep is more environmentally friendly than shipping granite from India, Brazil, Italy, China and Africa... Just because it came from Home Depot does not mean they mined it from their back yard.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! If you are truly interested, seek out a professional! Having worked in the green building industry and dealing with various alternative countertop options, I can say first hand that most of these products are amazing.

I have never seen an unhappy customer.
Those who seek to own these options are; A) Looking for something other than the now standard granite countertops. B) The eco-conscious who know that mining stone out of the earth is not a good thing nor is having a food prep surface from petroleum based products. C) Are willing to put forth a little more money to have something special, unique and in my opinion, far more superior than any traditional material on the market.

They do not fit everyones budget but there are fabrication techniques that can bring costs down.

Durability is superior in most materials such as Paperstone, Vetrazzo, Gilasi, and even bamboo materials.

Some options are clean and sophisticated while others are fun and vibrant.
Companies like Gilasi, Vetrazzo, and concrete manufacturers offer customers the ability to fully customize the colors.

I remodeled my kitchen this past summer, with Eco by Cosentino counters in a nice medium warm grey color... I LOVE it, and would recommend it to anyone!
I wanted something more monolithic in color than granite, that did not require as much 'care' in terms of selecting cleaning products, durable, environmentally friendly, and CHEAP. What I found is that while it is marginally more expensive than the granite available in big box stores, the quality is SO much higher that it makes it worth it. If you buy the granite "on special" from kitchen stores, you're running the risk of getting slabs with strong veining that turns into chipping that turns into cracks running through the whole counter, ugh. A lot of people assume all granite is the same quality or durability... many specific types are not suited to countertops at all, but people focus only on color/pattern. Add to that, the likely scenario of forgetting a certain cleanser is bad news for granite, and the surface starts to pit and decompose. Why bother? Composites are better all around!
My counters still look as good as they did on install day, whereas my mom's granite is starting to chip in some places (at the dishwasher, next to the sink, where you are more likely to whack it). Sad, after all that work, to have something fall apart in the first year! ;/

@Architte - Can I make an adendum to your post? DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT consult the big box stores as your only resource for materials. Home Depot's quote for granite, Eco, and quartz was at least $400 higher than what local companies quoted.

When possible, cut out the middle man. Home Depot gets its materials from companies that cut it for them. Those companies get their materials from stone distributors. Most privately-owned and local companies are fabricators. You eliminate an extra step when you talk to them, rather than Home Depot (who contracts out to the cheapest labor).

We put a Vetrazzo countertop in our bath. It's seemingly indestructible (perfect with 2 kids), and we like the look. At full price, it is really expensive. However, we live close to the factory, and we found a local fabricator who had tons of remnants, including some "experimental" pieces (unusual colors, patterns). They cut the sink openings for us, and we did the installation ourselves. Super affordable, but not everyone can go that route.

I concur with all regarding the busy-ness and the expense. One less busy alternative is BioGlass, tho still as pricey.

@elaneb: yes, poured concrete is 'greener' than either granite or quartz-based counters. The mining is granite or any stone is ecologically destructive, and quartz-based counters typically have petroleum-based products in their mixes, which I try to avoid.

Paperstone is a decent option, tho it's heat resistant only to 350, so those like the flexibility to set a hot pan from the oven directly on the counter shouldn't choose this material.

@ElaneB - Concrete may not be greener in some regards. The process to make cement, the glue to hold the rocks and sand together, isn't the most eco-friendly of processes. To make the portland cement, limestone has to be quarried and processed. To turn the limestone into cement, takes lots of heat. There's also a large release of carbon dioxide while making cement too. The cement industry produces about 5% of global man-made carbon dioxide emissions. I'm sure concrete countertops only utilize a very, very small portion of total cement production worldwide - but just something to consider.

Yes, definitely one of the earth friendly renovations we could do to our homes and kitchens. If you like to do your part in helping mother nature, then definitely go green.

Have anybody used this service providers on recycled granite countertops?
http://www.granitetransformations.ca/