25.05.2023

The Sustainability of Marble & the Philosophy of Stonetech

Marble is often positioned as a solution that fits the palette of the most sustainable materials, primarily because it is one of the most durable construction materials.

Each marble has specific characteristics and properties that make it suitable or not for specific architectural applications. In order to do their work more efficiently, after testing on the surfaces we provide this data to our partners. There are marbles with great resistance to cold and they are chosen for projects in countries with very low temperatures, such as Silver Cloud, which we have installed in Russia, China, Canada, and other countries in external facades.
For warmer climates, there is a great demand for Thassos marble, which besides its unique all-white color, also has the property of insulating from the heat. After all, the choice of the right material for the right application based on the geographical location is a very important part of the suitability and therefore the sustainability of the materials.

Finally, it is worth noting that the finished marble product has a much lower carbon footprint than other building materials, such as cement, aluminum, and even wood. Specifically, 1kg of treated marble has 0.116 CO2/kg compared to cement at 0.159 CO2/kg, aluminum at 8.24 CO2/kg, and other materials. For these measurements, studies have been conducted based on specific standards, for which our company has supplied all the necessary data to evaluate its own footprint and make moves towards our improvement.

At Stonetech we achieve the minimization of our environmental footprint through a series of actions to which we are committed.

We are one of the few companies in the industry worldwide that invests in minimizing its environmental footprint. In our largest production unit, in Heraklion, Crete, we cover our electricity needs through solar panels by 80%, and with the expansion we are planning, the percentage will increase to 90%-95%.

Our industry also consumes a lot of water, which is why our company recycles 85% of the water it uses, while here too an investment is being made to be able to achieve rates of 90-95%.
Another practice we follow is to replace our vehicles, from forklifts to sales cars and wherever possible, with electrics and hybrids.

Finally, we choose partners who have certifications for best practices, such as in the printing part, the papers for our forms, or the materials for our sampling, we choose to be from recycled materials.

Beyond marble, Stonetech has a huge range of modern products, many of which carry sustainability features.

We constantly invest in innovative surfaces, proposing new materials and solutions. In our portfolio, we have artificial surfaces and we represent world-renowned companies, such as NEOLITH, which manufactures materials from 100% natural raw materials without harmful substances for the environment, since they consist of up to 52% recycled material, which is 100% recyclable.

Also, as a company, we strategically choose to give a second chance to materials, placing the remnants of volumes and tiles in flooring compositions, cladding, special constructions, decorative furniture, and other objects. This is achieved either by admixtures with other materials or exclusively with remnants, the result is impressive and unique, especially if we consider the ecological approach of this practice.

A company's responsibility towards the environment can be expressed in many ways, and for us, it is part of the way we operate, our broader philosophy.

For more details about marble, you can subscribe to the Stonetech Academy training program by contacting us via email.

Extract from our interview at LIFO magazine ADM Special Edition