Among the many surfaces available for such hard-working areas of the house as bath and kitchen countertops, engineered quartz may hold the most cache. Expensive, durable, and nonporous, homeowners often choose engineered quartz for its beauty (it looks like natural stone). It's also scratch and stain-resistant, unlike marble. Granite, another popular and expensive choice, can crack and requires periodic sealing. In addition to being heat- and water-resistant, engineered stone also doesn't require sealing. It's virtually maintenance-free. 

While the texture, color, pattern, and veining of natural stone can vary from slab to slab, engineered quartz is highly consistent. Made from natural quartz (from 93 to 96 percent) combined with epoxy or polyester resin as a binder, engineered quartz "doesn't contain toxic chemicals," according to Joel Hirshberg, the founder of Green Building Supply. "All are NSF certified." And that's important from a health and safety perspective. According to NSF.org, NSF certification is not a one-time initiative. It requires regular on-site inspections of facilities and routine re-testing of products. These ongoing actions ensure that they continue to meet the high standards necessary to maintain the certification.

For all of these reasons, engineered quartz is a trendy choice, especially among homeowners who can afford it. But beyond being low-maintenance and durable, how sustainable is it?

Quartz and Caveats 

M S International (MSI), a national distributor of floor, wall, and countertop surfaces, touts quartz as inherently eco-friendly because most of its composition is from the earth. There's a nice sentiment, but there's more to the sustainability story, including extracting and fabricating the quartz into countertops.