The LCA Method Applied to the Stone Supply Chain: Quantifying the Impact of Transport and Energy
Tracking the journey of authentic natural stone to quantify resource consumption in slab production. Pietra Naturale Autentica, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Turin, has published its second Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study. This expanded analysis includes data on a broader range of raw materials, including international sources.
The study establishes system boundaries, analyzing the entire process—from quarry extraction to random slab sawing and finishing—across companies involved in the project. Data collected over a full year of production covered:
• Energy consumption, water usage, and raw materials
• Waste management (type, quantity, and destination)
• Emissions into air, water, and soil
• Transport logistics (systems used and distances traveled)
Using LCA models, the study calculated the environmental impact of producing a 1m² random slab (20 mm thick) for 20 different raw materials, both Italian and foreign. The weighted average carbon footprint of a single random slab is 12.5 kg CO₂ eq./m².
A key finding is the stark difference between domestically sourced and imported stone:
• Italian stone has a lower impact: 8.6 kg CO₂ eq./m²
• Imported stone (extracted abroad and processed in Italy) has a significantly higher footprint: 25.3 kg CO₂ eq./m²
This highlights the substantial impact of transportation in the overall production balance, providing essential data for informed, sustainable decision-making.
Focus Interview
Claudia Chiappino, Mining Engineer
“For the first time, every phase of the natural stone random slab production process has been analyzed, from cradle to gate.”
Why is this LCA study a valid tool for assessing the environmental impact of stone production?
“For the first time, a sector-wide study has analyzed natural stone production using the functional unit approach. This means every stage of a 1m², 20 mm thick random slab’s life cycle has been examined—from raw material extraction to the finished product—using a cradle-to-gate methodology.”
What were the most significant environmental impact factors?
“As expected, energy consumption played a major role, particularly in the operation of quarry and processing machinery. Additionally, transportation—from the quarry to the processing site—had a substantial impact on environmental performance.”
How do these findings benefit the industry?
“This data is a foundation for real sustainability. With concrete numbers, the industry can target technical and technological improvements that reduce environmental impact. This is the true purpose of LCA: to analyze a product’s life cycle and identify ways to lower its footprint.”