The LCA complements our Manifesto, Naturally Sustainable. Here’s what we’ve learned and what we need to do now.

The LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodology employed by PNA companies complies with European standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, the European Commission’s guidance (LCD), and the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). This has enabled the quantification and measurement—stage by stage—of the average environmental impacts associated with a natural stone slab of standard size and thickness.

The findings of the study are particularly significant for the sector, as the data originate from dozens of companies across the Italian and international natural stone supply chain. The inventory analysis, in LCA terms, was conducted over a one-year period. All relevant data regarding energy, water, raw materials and material consumption, waste types, quantities and destinations, as well as any emissions to air, water, and soil, transport modes used, and distances travelled, were meticulously collected and analysed.

The most significant environmental impacts identified were emissions resulting from energy consumption during extraction and sawing processes, and from the transportation of stone rough blocks. We have identified areas for improvement in reducing the environmental footprint of our production processes, established attainable sustainability goals, and confirmed our supply chain’s resilience and competitiveness—particularly when compared with other materials such as ceramics in terms of sustainability and environmental performance.

The study is robust, being based primarily on data collected directly from quarries and processing plants. It also benefits from strong geographical representation, covering various lithotypes from central and northern Italy as well as from several global leaders in the natural stone sector. Temporally, the data are highly representative, with all material data referring to the year 2023.

The LCA complements and substantiates the sustainability objectives set out in our Sustainability Manifesto.

Focus interview:
Flavio Marabelli, Honorary President of Confindustria Marmomacchine

If we consider sustainability, the natural stone sector—though initially behind—has made considerable progress thanks to the analytical and research tools we have implemented. And we have no intention of stopping. Together with the Natural Stone Strategic Alliance (NSSA), we have decided to promote a series of significant joint sustainability projects. One of our ambitious goals is to develop a Global EPD Collaboration aimed at creating an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for natural stone materials at a global level. This is a crucial challenge and a fundamental step towards positioning natural stone as a leader in low-carbon construction and cladding materials on the international market.

We export 80 percent of our total production worldwide, making us highly exposed to the geopolitical volatility of these uncertain times. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic—the per square metre sales value of our materials remains very high. We are aware that the buyer ultimately sets the price and today’s buyers are increasingly informed, recognising and rewarding the value of sustainability. Our ‘Naturally Sustainable’ natural stone products, as affirmed in our Sustainability Manifesto, succeed in the marketplace because they provide the right answers in a sector that is working to reduce its environmental footprint. Moreover, technological innovation, particularly in processing techniques that enhance the aesthetic appeal of products, is supporting us. These advancements have also expanded the range of interior design applications, further increasing the attractiveness of our materials.