[Greenbuilding] Green counters?

[Stephen Young]

At quite high expense, I purchased and installed Richlite countertops - http://www.richlite.com/ - because I thought them a eco-friendly choice.

However, I'm wondering if I my choice was poor, or at least less good than I hoped.

Richlite counters are, the website says, primarily paper treated with phenolic resin and baked to create a solid sheet.

The paper comes from sustainably harvested North American forests, they say.

But the baking process uses I don't know what, gas? electricity? to heat the counters to make them hard.

Gas or (most) electricity are not sustainably harvested. 

And, of course, the counter was shipped from Washington State to Washington DC for installation.

Those two strikes (sustainable and less shipping) were two reasons I ruled out marble/granite countertops, but Richlite isn't perfect on these counts either.

Could there have been a better choice? 

Actually, I seriously conisidered wood counters, but the maintenance issues are quite high.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Stephen