Natural Stone A Sustainable Solution

Natural stone is as its name suggests, a natural product.

But did you know that it’s one of the more eco friendly building products? It can have a smaller carbon footprint than other common materials, and it’s extraction has a minimal impact.

We explore the sustainable benefits of natural stone.

Low Impact

Did you know that natural stone is 100% and infinitely recyclable?

It doesn’t require any other materials to produce and creates no by-products because it contains nothing else except its trace elements.

The manufacturing process of natural stone does not use any resins or toxins. And as technology improves the efficiency of the production process, fewer resources will be needed to extract and fabricate natural stone.

What’s more, stone is quarried as opposed to mined. The key difference being that a quarry follows natural deposits of stone and aims to extract stone with minimal waste and without much excavation of the surrounding earth.

A study of different floor covering materials revealed that natural stone-based products had a significantly lower environmental impact in their production, installation, and use than other materials like PVC, laminates, and hardwood flooring.

Carpet, for example, had a CO2 equivalent 20 times more than natural stone when looking at the global warming potential of different materials.

While Terrazzo is the original example of upcycling. This composite product makes use of stone and tile off-cuts to create a new usable product.

So as you can see, very little extra resources go into the use of natural stone since it develops naturally over time and requires minimal, often primitive tools, to extract it.

Long lasting

Natural stone’s hard wearing qualities also means it stands the test of time. You won’t need to replace it like other materials.

There’s a reason historic landmarks are built from stone after-all.

Stone can stand strong for hundreds, even thousands, of years. See ancient temples, castles, even the Stonehenge.

Stone’s geothermal properties make it great for use in a harsh climate like Australia too. This helps further reduce the footprint of a home’s construction and function. Stone is great at insulating areas where it’s installed but also holds heat well, so it’s great for our extreme summers and winters.

Incorporating stone

Consider how you might use a natural stone in your home. Whether it’s for a feature facade, or installed inside as a marble benchtop, or a stunning bathroom with Terrazzo tiles, natural stone is a great choice.

Natural stone provides a mix of classic and contemporary looks so it can be easily incorporated into any home design. With our large selection, you’ll also be able to find the right stone to suit a period home or an ultramodern pad.

With sustainability front of mind for conscious consumers, and a considered effort to reduce environmental impacts, natural stone allows you to balance both aesthetic and ethical considerations.