would not make a bit of difference to me. I like what I like. and just because something does not emit toxins now, that is no indication of how bad the process to MAKE the product is for the environment. I think the mfg of plastics and resins is far more harmful to the environment than the mining of granite is.

Safe for the home means that the countertops are not poisoning the family, right? It might be the kind of thing that would in fact make a difference to a potential home sale. These issues tend to grow a life of their own. One person had her granite countertops removed entirely the day after the NYT ran the article about it. It matters to me as I am currently shopping countertop materials, and am leaning towards soapstone for that reason. Whether or not it is a serious matter remains to be seen, but quite often thinking makes it so... It could become the new mold.

Greenguard certification relates primarily to indoor air quality, not necessarily how good or bad something is for the environment. I think the only natural stone products that are Greenguard certified are those that have some kind of stain-resistant "technology" applied to them. I suspect the problems with offgassing would come from that coating rather than from the stone itself. Some of the quartz products are Greenguard certified but I would think it is the binders and resins that would present IAQ problems rather than the aggregate.

I also think it would be tough to certify a natural material like granite or marble since the testing would have to be done on specific pieces or samples. With something like the quartz or solid surface products there is a specific formula that can be evaluated. With natural materials there could be great variations depending on where it came from, what it was, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Greenguard Environmental Institute