While there is no material with zero impact on our planet, there are environmentally friendly countertop materials with Soapstone being one of them. All products have some green and some not-so-green characteristics, with the understanding that “being green is not a black and white issue”.

Soapstone has often been referred to as “Nature’s best gift to your home”. It is a natural quarried stone that is completely recyclable from blocks to slabs to tiles to ice cubes and anything along the way…even the dust can be used for grout. This avoids having to mine and thus reduce other grout materials. NOTHING NEEDS TO BE SENT TO A LANDFILL. Diversion from a landfill is a definite plus.

In addition, pieces of soapstone that are being removed or replaced from old buildings can be reused with minimal effort and restoration.

There is nothing that needs to be done to the stone to make it functional or beautiful. Once quarried, soapstone is minimally processed; no water is needed during the mining. Soapstone is delivered in its natural state. It doesn’t have to be shipped to Italy or China for finishing, saving on gas and other transportation pollutants. Materials that require less processing use less energy, and so have less impact.

Due to the increased demand, the mining of soapstone has stimulated the economy by creating jobs in the countries of Brazil and India where most of the soapstone is quarried.

Soapstone is not buried deep so the mining is closer to the surface. The earth is not as disrupted leaving less impact on the area and less embodied energy. The areas are usually savannahs and the ground is simply re-planted.

The availability of soapstone in the earth makes it virtually inexhaustible in a human time scale. This criterion meets the UN Commission on Environment and Development Report which states “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

Soapstone rates very well in terms of the criteria for sustainability of building products. The longevity of natural stone prevents frequent replacement; adding to the long lifespan of soapstone and its durability. Soapstone will NOT wear out. Your investment will last for generations.

Soapstone is considered a dimension stone. Dimension stone in use can last many generations, even centuries. When building green, dimension stone has big advantages over aluminum, concrete, and steel, whose productions are highly energy intensive and create air and water pollution. As an entirely natural product, soapstone has a major plus over quartz surface and other artificial stone (resin-agglomerated stone) which are made from mixed quart sand or ground stone and a resin and acrylic.

Materials required to process stone use less energy and no toxic materials thus no greenhouse gas emissions during fabrication, the dust created is controlled. Diamond wire saws use less water and energy.

Soapstone is non-porous; there is no need for chemical sealants or harsh chemicals to be used. No off gas- VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Meets, actually exceeds, LEED Rating Standard Requirements under MR2: Environmentally Preferable Products for low emissions and doesn’t contain urea formaldehyde resins. US GBC 2009 SOAPSTONE HAS NONE!

No plywood sub-top is required for soapstone - plywood typically has off gases.

There are no harsh chemicals used on soapstone. The only product that is recommended, if one chooses to use it, is a natural mineral oil which is food grade safe. It evenly darkens the stone and bringing out the unique characteristics. Leaving soapstone untreated, it will develop a natural rustic look.

The stone is FDA approved. Since soapstone does not harbor bacteria, a green friendly cleaner can be used to clean and maintain the stone; minimizing any negative impact to your indoor air quality.

Minimal cleaning will be required using less water.

The composition of talc and magnesite in soapstone are excellent heat-storage and heat-conductivity elements, making it more suitable than other materials for stove building and heat distribution.

The air remains clean, the floor and walls are comfortably warm, and the airs humidity remains stable. Soapstone radiates even warmth, which is repeatedly pointed out by doctors and biologists to be beneficial for human health.

Soapstone’s ability to sustain the temperature makes it a better material for sinks than steel or enamel. Soapstone absorbs and retains heat making it an extremely energy efficient product for sinks, wood stoves and fireplaces.

Finally soapstone helps numerous people and nations achieve what former President Theodore Roosevelt stated so eloquently in 1910: “The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value.”