Neolith, the pioneers of Sintered Stone, announces it has achieved carbon neutral status. In 2019 the brand recorded no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from gate-to-gate emissions.
It’s a significant milestone in the company’s objective to become an internationally recognized green manufacturer, producing one of the most sustainable and ecologically-friendly materials available to architects, specifiers and end users alike.
Working out
To attain the highly-prized carbon neutral status Neolith followed the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and implemented a dynamic, innovation-led sustainability strategy coupled with tactical, high value carbon-offsetting.
This has led to carbon neutrality across the entire business, significantly seeing the brand receiving 100 percent of its electricity in 2019 from renewable energy sources. This measure removed a massive 7,690 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Furthermore 90 percent of the waste generated by Neolith is recycled and given a second life either with company operations or through authorized 3rd party players. This demonstrates a robust commitment to the circular economy.
Neolith’s surfaces also embody these principles, with up to 48 percent of slab composition obtained from recycled material.
Plant machinery has been upgraded to improve energy efficiency, particularly the 3rd line’s furnace which has benefitted from the installation of an O2 and pressure control system, significantly reducing the amount of gas consumed.
This is complemented by a 40 percent reduction of forklift truck diesel consumption and a 20 percent decrease in hazardous waste.
A policy to reduce the amounts of single-use plastic used has also been implemented. A small, but significant step towards carbon neutrality, demonstrating Neolith’s commitment to sustainable business.
All these measures directly meet GHG’s reduction objectives, which include: direct emissions company activity (e.g. natural gas, gas-oil used in forklifts, cars in property), emissions from electricity used and other indirect emissions, generated from other day to day company activity.
Fundamentally, Neolith is an organization with eco-friendly and sustainable practices at the heart of the business.
Making a difference
In terms of carbon offsetting, Neolith has also undertaken a number of environmental projects, in line with its wider sustainability strategy. These projects compensate for and absorb a specific quantity of CO2e. Chief amongst these is an exciting, upcoming project in Central America to protect and maintain the unique biodiversity of the Guatemalan Caribbean Conservation Coast.
Specifically, the Guatemalan Caribbean Conservation Coast project will see Neolith working to protect the unique biodiversity within the remaining forests in the region. The brand will help to address the drivers of deforestation through effective law enforcement, land use planning, education, economic opportunities and sustainable agroforestry initiatives.
As a direct result of the project activities, over four million tCO2e will be avoided by 2021, the equivalent of taking over 440,000 homes off the grid for a year. When considering the lifetime of the project over 30 years, the tCO2e avoided will be closer to c. 22 million. There are also important biodiversity benefits, protecting over 400 species of birds have been documented in the project and the habitat of an abundance of mammals and reptiles, including 30 High Conservation Value (HCV) species.
Commenting on the announcement Mar Esteve Cortes, Neolith’s CMO, says, “Given the brand’s founding vision, achieving carbon neutrality represents the achievement of a core company objective. I’m proud that architects, designers and consumers can choose Neolith’s surfaces, confident they are investing in the greenest Sintered Stone available. This will make their projects even more eco-friendly.”
José Luis Ramón, Neolith’s CEO, adds, “Corporate social responsibility is not only about ensuring your business practices are as sustainable and ethical as possible, it’s also about giving back to wider society. Particularly, helping others less fortunate than yourself. Our work on Guatemalan Caribbean Conservation Coast project will have myriad benefits, not only for this unique region’s biodiversity but also the people who live there. It will strengthen the natural habitat and provide a much needed socio-economic boost to the local population, which is one of the poorest in Central America.”
