Cosentino isn't just one of the world’s biggest stone manufacturers – it's a company where family values and sustainability guide every innovation. As a direct result of this ethos, the carbon-neutral Dekton® by Cosentino certainly set the standard, proving that doing the right thing can yield groundbreaking ingenuity. Dekton® is the only ultra-compact porcelain surface product on the market that’s carbon neutral throughout its lifecycle. It’s low in silica and resin-free, and boasts an exceptionally durability profile. There is no doubt that Dekton® is redefining the potential of safe, sustainable and beautiful design and has a firm place in the future of construction. So, where to from here?

It turns out that Dekton® – as a physical material and as a representation of Cosentino’s design ethos – is a fundamental element of the company’s future plans. With its outstanding ability to become raw material for itself and other products, Cosentino is embracing its properties to advance its innovative pursuits. And these, as Itay Shimony, Cosentino’s Vice President of Oceania assures me, never stop – Cosentino’s innovative engineering department is always busy working on the next big thing.

What Itay does make clear is that focus on safety underpins all of the new developments. In fact, this commitment to safety has always remained a priority – even if it came at the cost of market loss.

Safety first

“Prior to the introduction of the bans, Victoria was the only state that required licences for working with engineered stone, and then only if it was over 40% silica – which most of it was,” he explains, adding that Cosentino have been offering low-silica stone in Australia since 2019. “We were the only brand offering low-silica products and while it might have been tempting to make our product available to unlicensed buyers, we made a very conscious choice not to – if you're not licensed and you're not protecting your workers, you shouldn't be in business. We never take the easy route if it compromises health and safety, even if it hurts short-term sales.”

This seems to be a crucial element of Cosentino’s ethos. “Our commitment has always been to only introduce products after thorough testing,” Itay adds. “Even if that means passing up market share.”

Family business with global presence

It’s pretty clear that ESG isn't just marketing fluff for Cosentino. “It's a deep commitment, and it ties into the very fact that we're still a family business. We have a sense of responsibility as a global supplier, whether it's with Dekton® or other products,” he says passionately. “We truly believe that, slowly but surely, we can drive positive change.”

There is no doubt that Cosentino is doing that already – and in more ways than one. The company handles the whole manufacturing process and controls the reuse of raw materials. They even offer a cutting service right at the factory. “This is important because a big waste problem in Australia happens at the stonemason level,” Itay explains. “A typical countertop creates 20-25% waste. So if we control that waste stream, we can divert it from landfill and recycle.”

That’s not all. 100% of electrical energy in Cosentino’s factory in Brazil is generated from renewable sources certified with Guarantee of Origin (GoO), while the factory in Spain runs on 100% renewable energy. The company’s impressive investment in their water plant also means that 99% of the water is recycled, with zero discharge to lakes and rivers.

“Everything we do – energy, water, zero discharge, creating and reusing raw materials – it's the core of our philosophy.,” Itay expands. “We're the biggest stone supplier; we feel a responsibility to show there's a more sustainable way. We want to change the construction industry, reduce pollution and waste – we want to do our part.”

As part of this resolve, Cosentino is committed to a voluntary emissions reduction target of -35% by 2030. To date, they have managed to reduce their carbon footprint by 12.81% (tCO2e/t product) over the company’s 2018 baseline and 6.1% compared to 2021, so this is a big area of focus moving forward. And while their utilisation of raw materials is already impressive, they’re aiming for 75% by next year.

Doing the right thing

As one of the industry’s largest brands, Cosentino has fittingly ambitious targets – and the brand isn’t willing to compromise. “We're a three-billion-dollar operation with a global reach and 6000 employees world-wide,” Itay smiles. “We're proof that you can do the right thing and still be profitable, and that you don’t have to compromise health and safety to succeed.”

Cosentino's journey shows the power of choosing products that prioritise people and the planet. The future of construction can be both beautiful and responsible, and the industry should demand a better way – especially, when brands like Cosentino are leading the charge.