1GreenProduct

ECO by Cosentino

Looking for other eco-friendly countertop options besides the Caesarstone we reviewed a couple of days ago?

Take a close look at ECO™ by Cosentino, a new line of countertop and surfacing material composed of 75% recycled material.

More specifically, this “recycled material” includes post-industrial and post-consumer glass derived from mirrors, window glass, bottles, granulated glass, porcelain (from sinks, toilets, tiles, etc.) and the crystallized ashes in industrial furnace residuals.

Cosentino expects to upcycle and reuse the equivalent of 60,000,000 glass bottles every year producing its ECO countertops.

ECO by Cosentino's Starlight color has plenty of sparkle

These upcycled glass materials are then mixed with 25% natural material including stone scrap and an eco-friendly resin made from corn oil.

The result? A hard, durable, non-porous surface that does not need sealing. Cosentino claims its ECO countertops have the same durability as quartz, with natural resistance to staining, scratching and scorching.

The company says its manufacturing practices (94% recycled water) and packaging materials (recycled) are also eco-friendly.

Tip – If you’re building a new home and hoping to get LEED certification, Cosentino says that architects and builders can get LEED points by including ECO by Cosentino surfaces in their designs.

From a first-person perspective, I can say that the samples Cosentino provide a variety of choices in the range of whites, creams, browns, greys and blacks. (You won’t find any bright colors here, like with Caeasarstone’s Warm Red option – but of course all the Caesarstone countertops have much less recycled material than the ECO by Cosentino products.)

I was slightly disappointed that one of the countertop samples had cracked in transit.

ECO by Cosentino's earthy, organic Riverbed color

The most successful of the ECO by Cosentino colors in my view are the ones like Riverbed and White Diamond that glory in the heterogeneity of their composition. Riverbed in particular has a sort of organic, earthy quality, while White Diamond makes me think of heirloom mirrors that have been saved and given new life all mixed together and jumbled up with pieces of other people’s lives.

Ultimately, my favorite of the ECO by Cosentino varieties may be the Starlight option – black with little shiny flecks of light sparkling in the darkness.

Where to Buy:

You can order product samples directly from Cosentino.

A company spokesperson says that the ECO by Cosentino products are available at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores nationwide and at regional kitchen retailers.

To find a retailer near you, fill out an online contact form or call Cosentino at 1-866-579-4ECO (4326).