PROJECT

Natural stone refers to rocks that, after having undergone a process, fully retain their composition, texture and physicochemical properties, making them suitable for use as building materials, ornamental elements, funerary art and sculpture, art objects and various other applications. In the use of natural stone, the production cycle consists of the cutting and working of blocks of stone and the reduction of volume to the commercial sizes required by the manufacturing and processing industries. In the world we live in, the production of natural stone has increased in line with the growing interest and demand, as natural stone has become part of life, bringing aesthetics, durability and modernity to living spaces and buildings. Türkiye is one of the five largest marble and natural stone producing countries in the world in terms of production volume and value. Countries such as Türkiye and Spain are among the leading countries in the extraction, processing and export of marble. Bilecik is one of the provinces in our country where reserves are found in large quantities. However, the natural stone industry faces significant sustainability challenges:

• Quarrying and processing contribute to deforestation, dust and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Quarrying depletes finite natural resources, raising concerns about their long-term availability.
• Workers in the industry face risks from dust exposure, noise pollution and unsafe working conditions.
• The industry can contribute to inequitable labour practices and impacts on local communities.

This project aims to address these challenges by:

• Conducting research and working with stakeholders to identify existing and emerging sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the natural stone industry.
• Providing practical training, resources and digital tools to help industry players, policy makers and communities adopt and implement these practices.
• Researching and developing new technologies and approaches to minimize the industry’s environmental footprint.

The ECO-STONE project aligns with several key EU priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, including SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 13 (climate action). The blended training modules, job shadowing activities, handbook and analytical reports will contribute to the innovation of VET in the natural stone industry.