CaesarStone has introduced the newest addition to its Environment First collection: Starry Night. This new color consists of finely crushed remnants of Blizzard, CaesarStone’s best-selling color. CaesarStone is the only quartz surface to recycle waste generated by stonemasons, something the company has achieved through a local Recycling Program, reports the company.
“As with all of our products, we have strict quality-control systems in place,” said Arik Tendler, President of CaesarStone US. “Only the finest in quality and durability reach the hands of our customers, so naturally there are surfaces that don’t make the cut. However, these scraps do not go to waste. They are collected and sent to our manufacturing plant to create new surfaces. This program was established in 2007, and has already prevented over 2,400 quartz surfaces from ending up in landfills.”
As a result of this groundbreaking Recycling Program, CaesarStone has created Marrone (pictured), Carbone, Starry Night and Spring Blossom. These new colors have been met with great enthusiasm from its customers - not only because of their beauty and versatility, but also because of their story and attainability, states CaesarStone.
CaesarStone’s recycled products were also the first quartz surfaces to be approved and certified by SCS (Scientific Certification Systems), according to the company. All of CaesarStone’s quartz surfaces comply with American GEI (GREENGUARD Environmental Institute) certification. CaesarStone is a member of the Green Building Council.
Tile of Spain-branded manufacturer Ceracasa most recently introduced a complementary system to Bionictile called Lifewall - a vegetated facade that uses the simple process of photosynthesis to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. Developed by architect Emilio Llobat of Maqla Architects, Azahar Energy and Cercasa, Lifewall is a system of panels that are 1 square meter and can hold any vegetation. The plants are watered by drip, optimizing water use while the panels can be used as part of the design of the facade.
These facades are designed to work in perfect symbiosis with Bionictile, which filters harmful pollutants from the air. By combining this smog-eating tile and the vegetated wall by Azahar Energy, this system offers a decontamination solution for urban environments. Carbon dioxide is turned into oxygen through the plants supported by Lifewall. These plants are in turn nourished by the benign nitrates left behind after Bionictile converts harmful nitrogen oxide from the atmosphere.