There has been a debate for years about whether or not natural stone slabs are “green.” To understand the answer, we must look at what it means for a product to be considered green. A sustainable or ecological product is manufactured by increasing the efficiency of natural resources, such as energy, water and material use, while reducing the impact on the environment during its life cycle. Increased resource efficiency could be achieved in many ways. Modern technology has made it possible to develop machinery that reduces the use of water or electricity with the same or greater production. Another example would be producing products that create less waste. The other necessary factor is to reduce the impact on the environment during construction, use and demolition.
According to the Marble Institute of America, natural stone is “Mother Nature’s original green building material.” Natural stone is durable and outperforms most other building materials. This is evident when looking at historical structures dating back to Roman, Greek and even Egyptian times. Today, natural stone slabs such as granite and marble are used for a wide range of building materials. Some of the most common types are countertops, shower surrounds, flooring, exterior siding, and interior wall tiles. Natural stone slabs are solid rocks quarried directly from the earth in manageable sizes. There is little manufacturing involved in quarrying stone slabs. They are available in various types of stone, including granite, marble, limestone, travertine, onyx, sandstone, and soapstone. Each type of stone has countless color options determined by the region of the world in which they are found. Unlike man-made surfaces, natural stone slabs do not have bonding agents such as a polymer resin. In addition, they do not emit VOCs and it is recommended to clean them with neutral pH cleaners; not only improving air quality, but also reducing chemicals in our sewers and soil. Materials that can be used in their natural state, such as granite and marble, greatly reduce the impact on the environment.
Granite and marble slabs are extremely durable with the longevity to outlast the life of the building. Since it is one of the hardest natural stones, granite can be recovered, re-cut and reused, closing the life cycle. All natural stone slabs are 100% recyclable with endless ways to reuse the material. New ways of recycling stone are being developed every day. Some examples are resizing flagstones into pavers and tile, crushing them into chips for bonding into engineered countertop surfaces, and even crushing them into rocks for landscaping. The benefit of using granite and marble in these recycled products is that the stone is durable in any form.
Natural stone quarries are located throughout the world, so it is desirable to find a regional source within several hundred miles of most projects. Selecting a local stone is another way to reduce your impact on the environment by minimizing the effects of transportation. The last factor that determines whether natural stone is sustainable are the decisions made by the end user. Selecting a regional stone, cleaning it with ecological products and being responsible with the demolition ensure the best possible result.