ECO-STONE
ECO-FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE NATURAL STONE INDUSTRY

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You can also find information about the project on partners websites:

Asociación Empresarial de Investigación Centro Tecnológico del Mármol, Piedra y Materiales

Bilecik Ticaret ve Sanayi Odasi

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Areniscas Rosal S.A.

Asociatia Romania Green Building Council

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Bilecik Seyh Edebali University


PROJECT

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.

OBJECTIVES

The extraction and processing of natural stone can have an impact on the environment. In addition, quarrying activities can lead to environmental problems such as habitat loss, soil erosion and water pollution. However, this is at odds with the growing demand for sustainability in the natural stone sector. Still perceived as an old-fashioned and polluting sector, it is inevitable that the natural stone industry will change this image with sustainable and eco-friendly technologies and innovations that have low impact underground and zero impact above ground. To meet these challenges, the ECO-STONE aims to provide environmental, economic and social benefits and to develop practices by seeking innovative solutions for the sustainable processing and use of natural stone.

The specific objectives of the ECO-STONE are as follows:

  1. The project aims to reduce environmental impact by promoting the use of innovative approaches in the natural stone industry, such as eco-friendly production methods, reduced carbon footprint and the use of recyclable materials.
  2. ECO-STONE prioritizes the pursuit of new technologies and the development of related processes to increase energy efficiency and reduce processing costs, thereby creating a competitive advantage in the sector.
  3. The project encourages greater participation of local communities in the natural stone industry and supports local economic development. It aims to improve the skills of local people in the sector through training programmes and job creation projects.
  4. Encourage research and development initiatives within the natural stone sector to promote innovation, discover new techniques and stay ahead of market trends, thereby promoting the competitiveness of the industry.
  5. Implement training programmes to improve the skills of the workforce, with an emphasis on safety, technological competence and adaptability. This will contribute to a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the needs of the industry.
  6. Investing in and adopting advanced digital technologies to improve the efficiency of mining, cutting and shaping processes, leading to increased productivity, reduced waste and improved energy efficiency.
RESULTS
  1. Preparation of an analysis report and promotional short video on European green and eco-friendly practices and competences for the natural stone industry.
  2. Job shadowing based business visit for sustainable good practices and good practices report in the natural stone sector.
  3. Handbook for green transformation and promotion of sustainable materials in the natural stone industry.
  4. Development of practical training based on blended learning using new digital technologies for working natural stone.


REPORTS


HERE YOU WILL FIND ALL ACTIVITIES OF THE ECO-STONE PROJECT

A1. Project management, coordination and communication

A2. Transnational kick-off meeting for ECO-STONE project

A3. Analysis report and a promotional video of European green practices in natural stone industry

A4. The field visit as job shadowing for analysis of sustainable good practices and creating good practices report in natural stone sector

A5. Handbook for implementation of green transformation and working with sustainable materials in natural stone industry

A6. Development of practical trainings based on blended learning using new digital technologies for working natural stone (Available soon!!)

A7. Publicity and dissemination of the results

A8. Transnational closing meeting and evaluation


PLATFORM

UNDER CONSTRUCTION


NEWS

NEWS AND EVENTS


CONTACT

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Project code 2025-1-ES01-KA210-VET-000360690

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El proyecto ECO-STONE está cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Las opiniones y puntos de vista expresados (en esta nota de prensa/comunicado/publicación/etc.) sólo comprometen a su(s) autor(es) (nombre del centro educativo u organización de educación y formación) y no reflejan necesariamente los de la Unión Europea ni los del Servicio Español para la Internacionalización de la Educación (SEPIE). Ni la Unión Europea ni la Agencia Nacional SEPIE pueden ser considerados responsables de ellos.

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