Caesarstone: Australia's Ban On A Popular Stone

Australia has banned the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone, effective 1 July 2024. This includes Caesarstone quartz, which is classified as 'engineered stone'. However, the ban does not apply to all Caesarstone products, and the company has introduced new crystalline silica-free and porcelain collections that comply with the new regulations.

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Caesarstone is not banned in Australia, but its product is

Australia has banned the use, supply, and manufacture of a product called "engineered stone". This product is often used for benchtops, panels, and slabs in kitchens and bathrooms. Engineered stone is a material made by mixing crushed stone with a resin binder, usually containing about 90% crushed quartz, with the rest composed of metals and coloured glass.

Caesarstone is a company that manufactures engineered stone products, and thus its product is banned in Australia. However, the company Caesarstone itself is not banned. In fact, Caesarstone has been proactively working on making stone production and processes safer and has been preparing for this change. They have introduced new products that are crystalline silica-free and comply with the new regulations.

The decision to ban engineered stone was made due to the health risks associated with silica dust, which is released during the cutting, shaping, or polishing of the product. Silica dust can cause silicosis, a serious and often fatal lung disease. Workers in the engineered stone industry were found to develop silicosis at a disproportionate rate compared to other industries, with most cases occurring in people under 35 years old.

In response to the ban, Caesarstone has introduced new products that are safe for use and do not contain crystalline silica. These include the Caesarstone Mineral™ Crystalline Silica Free collection and the Caesarstone Porcelain collection, which can be used for kitchen benchtops, bathrooms, laundries, and outdoor dining areas.

While the ban on engineered stone affects Caesarstone's product offering, the company itself is not banned in Australia and continues to operate, providing alternative products that meet the new safety standards.

Australia banned the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone

Australia has banned the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone. The ban came into effect on 1 July 2024. Engineered stone is a material made by mixing crushed stone with a resin binder, usually containing about 90% crushed quartz, with the rest composed of metals and coloured glass. It has been widely used in home kitchen and bathroom renovations due to its affordability and durability.

The decision to ban engineered stone was made in response to the health risks associated with silica dust, which is released when cutting, shaping, or polishing the product. Silica dust can cause silicosis, a serious and often fatal lung disease. Safe Work Australia, the government's WHS agency, investigated the issue and found that engineered stone workers developed silicosis at a disproportionately high rate compared to other industries. The report also revealed that most workers who developed silicosis were under 35, and they faced a faster disease progression and a higher mortality rate than silicosis victims in other sectors.

In anticipation of the ban, Caesarstone, a well-known brand of engineered stone, has developed substitute products that are safe and compliant with the new regulations. These include the Caesarstone Mineral™ Crystalline Silica Free collection and their Porcelain collection, which offers UV-resistant surfaces suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

While the ban targets engineered stone products, it does not include finished goods that do not need further processing or modification, such as jewellery, garden ornaments, sculptures, and kitchen sinks. Additionally, the ban does not extend to porcelain and sintered stone products, including benchtops, slabs, and panels.

The Australian government has also announced that an importation ban on engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs will be implemented from 1 January 2025, further strengthening the deterrence of the use of engineered stone in the country.

The ban is due to the risk of workers developing silicosis, a fatal lung disease

Australia has banned the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, including Caesarstone, as of 1 July 2024. The decision to ban engineered stone was made due to the risk of workers developing silicosis, a serious and often fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust.

Silicosis is a long-term illness that can take years to become apparent, and it has disproportionately affected workers in the engineered stone industry compared to other sectors. Safe Work Australia, the government's WHS agency, found that most workers who developed silicosis were under 35, and they faced faster disease progression and a higher mortality rate than those in other industries. As a result, the agency recommended prohibiting the use of all engineered stone, and the country's workplace ministers unanimously agreed to implement a national ban.

Caesarstone, a well-known brand of engineered stone, has expressed disappointment with the ban, arguing that it targets only one type of product containing crystalline silica and does not address the underlying issue of poor compliance with safety standards. However, Caesarstone has also demonstrated a commitment to innovation and safety, transitioning to crystalline silica-free products like the Caesarstone Mineral™ collection and expanding its Porcelain range, which contains less than 40% silica.

The ban on engineered stone in Australia reflects a shift towards safer and more sustainable materials in various industries. While the prohibition may disrupt the popularity of engineered stone in home renovations, alternative materials, such as natural stone, bricks, tiles, concrete, mortar, plastic, timber, stainless steel, and laminate, offer lower silica content and reduced risk to workers.

Caesarstone offers crystalline silica-free and porcelain alternatives

Australia has banned the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, including benchtops, panels, and slabs, from 1 July 2024. However, this ban does not extend to porcelain and sintered stone products. Caesarstone, a leading supplier of engineered stone in Australia, is not banned, but it has proactively worked on making its stone production and processes safer.

Caesarstone will offer Caesarstone Mineral™ crystalline silica-free surfaces for various applications, including kitchen benchtops, splashbacks, bathrooms, laundries, and commercial interiors. These surfaces are developed with advanced technology and crafted from a unique blend of distinctive minerals, recycled materials, and innovative materials, such as recycled glass. They offer the same high-quality aesthetics, durability, and functionality as traditional quartz surfaces, including heat, stain, and scratch resistance, while surpassing rigorous industry and safety testing standards.

The transition to crystalline silica-free products ensures safer working conditions for the industry and aligns with the company's commitment to sustainability and the safety of its customers and partners. Caesarstone's Mineral surfaces contain up to 40% recycled material content and significantly reduced crystalline silica levels, with many of their most popular designs already available in the new blend.

In addition to its crystalline silica-free offerings, Caesarstone introduces new designs into its Porcelain collection, which is ideal for kitchen benchtops and both indoor and outdoor applications. The Porcelain collection brings additional functional performance to these surfaces, including UV resistance, further reinforcing Caesarstone's commitment to innovation and safety.

The Australian government has been working towards this ban since 2015

The Australian government has been working towards banning engineered stone since 2015, when an Australian worker developed silicosis, a long-term and fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. Engineered stone contains up to 97% silica dust, which is extremely hazardous to workers.

In 2018, Caesarstone joined the Qld & NSW Government Taskforce on Health & Safety, actively involving itself with Safe Work Australia. Caesarstone has also participated in parliamentary inquiries in 2019 and 2022, advocating for restrictions around the engineered stone industry.

In October 2023, Safe Work Australia's investigation into the issue resulted in a report that found engineered stone workers developed silicosis at a disproportionately high rate compared to other industries. Most of those who developed silicosis were under 35, and they faced a faster disease progression and a higher mortality rate. As a result, the report recommended prohibiting the use of all engineered stone.

On November 14, 2023, Australia's workplace ministers unanimously agreed to implement a national ban on engineered stone, which took effect on July 1, 2024. The ban prevents persons from carrying out work on or with engineered stone, including manufacturing, supplying, processing, and installing it.

While Caesarstone expressed disappointment with the ban, the company has introduced new products that are crystalline silica-free, such as the Caesarstone Mineral™ collection and the expanded Porcelain collection. These products are designed to meet the highest standards of environmental sustainability and ensure safer working conditions for the industry.

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