Australia has taken a groundbreaking step in workplace safety.
As of 1 July 2024, the recently implemented nationwide ban on engineered stone has taken effect.
About the Ban
What exactly has been banned?
The 1 July ban prohibits the manufacturing, supplying, processing, and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs across all Australian states and territories.
Why Has Australia Banned Engineered Stone?
This decision by the Australian government came in response to the rising cases of silicosis among workers who manufacture engineered stone.
Workers have been exposed to silica dust which is generated during the manufacturing, processing, and installation of engineered stone products. Exposure of this kind can lead to the development of lung cancer, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The ban follows years of campaigning by doctors, trade unions, and workers, and was supported by a report of evidence supplied by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
What is the Difference Between Engineered Stone and Natural Stone?
So, what’s the difference between engineered stone, which is banned, and natural stone, which is not banned?
Engineered stone is a composite material made by man. It is produced by mixing crushed stone with a resin binder. When cut, drilled, or ground, it releases dangerous silica dust from the crystalline silica that can cause severe health issues.
By contrast, natural stone is–for want of a better word–natural. It is formed over millions of years in the Earth’s crust and through various environmental processes, including intense amounts of heat and pressure.
As such, there is no need for artificial and potentially dangerous additives or a harmful manufacturing process to produce natural stone.
10 Reasons Why Natural Stone Reigns Supreme
While engineered stone is no longer an option for home owners in Australia, natural stone has long been the superior and recommended choice. Why?
1. Composition
Natural stone is quarried directly from the earth. While it is cut to size, it is not manufactured artificially in a factory. Hence it is 100% natural material. Engineered stone is manufactured using crushed natural stone (most commonly quartz) mixed with resins, binding agents and pigments.
2. Uniqueness
Engineered stone has been provided in a range of shades and styles, but because it is produced in a factory, the stone slab provided to you is hardly unique. Natural stone is one of its kind as there is no other stone exactly like that on Earth. This makes your stone benchtop, wall cladding or vanity completely unique.
3. Easy Maintenance
Being raw rock quarried from the Earth, natural stone is highly durable and hardy. While different types of stone offer different levels of porousness and hardiness, with the right professional sealing and easy maintenance routines it’s simple to maintain and keep looking fabulous.
4. Heat Resistant
Natural stone is typically more heat resistant than most types of engineered stone. While sudden and extreme temperature exposure can still damage natural stone, it is still the hardier material as far as heat is concerned.
5. Environmental Impact
Natural stone does not require energy-intensive or polluting manufacturing processes. It is simply quarried from the ground and cut to size. This makes it the least environmentally impactful of the two options and the greener choice.
6. Appearance
Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder but natural stone’s unique, organic and wondrous look brings not just fashion but visual authenticity to any room of the house. While engineered stone tries to mimic the pattern and aesthetic of natural stone, the reality is that there is nothing that can replace the real deal.
7. Safety
Natural stone does not pose the same health risks that engineered stone does. It contains far less crystalline silica and is not exposed to the same sort of artificial manufacturing process that has put workers’ health and lives in danger for decades.
8. Versatility
Natural stone can and has been used in a wide variety of applications across the home. This includes the more popular uses such as benchtops and splashbacks, but even fireplaces, staircases, bathroom vanities, showers, flooring and wall cladding as well.
9. Value
Natural stone is the more expensive option of the two, but while it is more of an investment upfront, natural stone often increases property value due to the luxurious nature, longevity, and timeless appeal of the material.
10. Variety
There are many different types of natural stone. Whether you prefer granite or marble, limestone or travertine, each type of stone brings with it a unique combination of aesthetics and functional benefits. Even within each sub-category of natural stone there is such a wide variety of shapes, patterns and styles that there is a perfect slab for everyone!
The Future of Stone in Australia is Natural
As Australia moves away from engineered stone for legitimate health-related reasons, natural stone continues to stand tall as a safe, beautiful, and enduring alternative.
Natural stone has been a cornerstone (no pun intended) of construction and interior design since the ancient days of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome.
In 21st century Australia, natural stone continues to offer a sophisticated beauty and practical functionality throughout the home.
If you’re wondering how you can incorporate the fantastic material that natural stone into your home, make sure to reach out to the premier suppliers of stone–Euro Marble!
