Extractivism and sustainability - The responsible balance that makes natural stone the most sustainable coating
The responsible use of natural resources is a reality in the ornamental stone sector. The actions start even before the mining company starts exploring a mine. This is because companies must comply with a series of strict rules and regulations, in addition to guaranteeing environmental compensation.
Among the sustainable practices, we can highlight the protection of water sources, recycling of waste and reuse of water in the cutting process. In addition, companies undertake to regenerate deposits that are already depleted with reforestation actions, reducing the carbon footprint.
Over time, it was possible to see that the sector evolved to mitigate the impacts of the industry on nature. An example of this fact is the process of cutting stones, which was revolutionized with the use of the multiwire diamond loom. The process eliminates the use of lime and grit during sawing, making the waste much cleaner.
Currently, the waste from cutting and polishing stone is dehydrated, pressed and stored in warehouses licensed by the Government. These materials can then be used in industries of different segments. The liquid sludge also has a certain destination in several companies and associations that recycle and reuse the residue in the industrial process.
Pieces of blocks, stone shards and even the limestone left over from the cutting process, for example, become raw material for cosmetics, fertilizer, paving, sanitation and other civil construction departments.
Residues from the marble extraction and processing process are also used as inputs in the chemical and agricultural industries for the manufacture of fertilizers, animal feed, paints, plastics, automotive parts and even in the production of toothpaste.
After passing through the crushing, grinding and micronization processes, ornamental stone residues can also be used to manufacture chairs, shoe soles and coverings for electrical cables.
Recently, the mining company Samarco started to use a product originated from the improvement of marble in the production of pellets produced in the company. One more proof that there is no shortage of alternatives for the materials left over from the processing of dimension stones.
The project for the use of FIBRO (Fino do Beneficiamento de Pedras Ornamentais) is a partnership between Samarco and the ornamental stone sector which, through entities such as Sindirochas and Centrorochas, seeks alternatives so that the use of FIBRO is carried out in a safe way standardized and not just in exceptional cases.
The regulation will provide greater security for the technicians involved in the analysis and release of projects involving the healthy use of waste generated by the segment.
Sustainable initiatives
Sustainability is understanding natural resources and using them intelligently, so that they continue to exist in the future. Aware of this role, companies in the stone sector develop concrete actions that make a difference in the environment in which they operate. Some of the actions that we can highlight are:
- Reuse of more than 95% of all the water used in the production process;
- Partnership with institutes and environmental agencies for the recovery of native trees at risk of extinction;
- Recovery of exploited areas making them attractive for use by wild fauna;
- Recovery of springs using seedlings of native species;
- Development of efficient production processes with cleaner technologies;
- Reuse of waste that is intended for sale to other companies;
- Creation of its own landfill (according to government requirements) for the correct disposal of waste;
- Investment in a rainwater harvesting system to reuse rainwater that is used in the production process.
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Architecture and design combined with the circular economy
The scraps of stones left over from the beneficiation process have also drawn the attention of designers, architects and artists who seek to create pieces with added value and socio-environmental bias, aiming at the circular economy.
Brazilians such as Lucas Recchia, Tiago Curioni, Carol Gay, Michael Zanghelini and Nara Ota are examples of professionals who see value in stone shards and other leftovers from the processing of natural stone. With technique and creativity, they revive materials that were unused in industries and marble factories.
The idea is to return value to what nobody else wanted, using a natural material, which does not contain any chemicals or harmful toxins and which has the lowest CO2 emission rate in production, compared to other synthetic coating options.
Opting for natural stone is choosing to be sustainable and to be connected with the earth and nature. Unlike a porcelain tile, for example, natural stone does not end when it is removed from a space. It is possible to recycle it and insert it in another room, in other constructions and even in works of art. The reuse of stones is proof that natural stones are still alive, even if in different forms.
