The Carrara Marmotec exhibition taking place in Carrara, Italy, 18-21 May is to host its first International Sustainable Stone Conference in collaboration with the University of Siena - Geotechnology Center and CNR IRCRES - Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth.

Taking place in the light of the latest directives on sustainability from the European Union (EU), the Conference sets out to explore the current state of sustainability in the stone sector, starting with case studies of excellence from the international stone industry that should become reference points of stone production for all companies in the sector.

The conference will focus on:

• Environmental sustainability: recovery and recycling of waste and sludge processing, resource conservation and energy systems, environmental impact assessment systems (Life Cycle Assessment), management systems and ecological labeling; 

• Social sustainability: international best practices for the assessment of stone industry social impacts, methods for the measurement of shared value, innovative approaches in the field of safety and training;

• Economic sustainability: certification and trademarks, business networks, innovation, the creation of added local value, start-ups, industrial tourism, environmental balance.

A special session dedicated to eco-design with natural stone will also be scheduled.

Read more here.