Embodied Carbon and Natural Stone
Using healthier building materials with minimal amounts of processing will reduce the embodied carbon of building projects. Natural stone is a single ingredient, all natural material with zero VOCs. Since mother nature does most of the manufacturing, its embodied energy is inherently low.
To help quantify the embodied carbon of natural stone, the Natural Stone Institute published a set of Industry-Wide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The disclosures include cradle to grave life cycle impacts for cladding, flooring, countertops.
Cladding
Flooring
Countertops
Comparing Natural Stone to Artificial Materials
To understand how natural stone can help to reduce the embodied carbon of building projects, review the infographics below that detail the steps in the manufacturing process for natural stone, precast concrete cladding, terrazzo flooring, and engineered quartz countertops. It is easy to understand why natural stone’s global warming potential is lower than those materials whose manufacturing processes are more complex and include multiple ingredients.
Natural Stone
Precast Concrete Cladding
Terrazzo Flooring
Engineered Quartz Countertops
Embodied Carbon Comparisons
The embodied carbon quantities displayed were estimated based on the following:
Unite of Measure: Global Warming Potential (kg CO2 eq)
Functional Unit: 1m2
Scope: Raw Material Extraction, Transportation, Manufacturing (A1-A3)
Natural Stone: Industry-Wide EPDs for Cladding, Flooring & Countertops
Pre-Cast Concrete Cladding: Industry-Wide EPD for Architectural Precast Panels, 150 lbs per ft3, 4” thick
Engineered Quartz: Average of three individual manufacturer EPDs including Corian Quartz, Vicostone, and Lotte
Terrazzo: Average of three individual manufacturer EPDs including Compac, Sensitile, and Sherwin Williams
Embodied Carbon Savings with Natural Stone
Cladding
Project Details:
Aquatic Center
241 m2 Exterior Cladding
Comparison per m2:
Natural Stone GWP: 21.4 kg CO2 eq
Precast Concrete GWP: 62.3 kg CO2 eq
Total Project Impacts:
Natural Stone: 5,157 kg CO2
Precast Concrete: 15,014 kg CO2 eq
Embodied Carbon Savings with Natural Stone:
9.9 metric tons CO2 eq
Flooring
Project Details:
Museum
1300 m2 Flooring
Comparison per m2:
Natural Stone GWP: 22.0 kg CO2 eq
Terrazzo GWP: 82.2 kg CO2 eq
Total Project Impacts:
Natural Stone: 28,600 kg CO2 eq
Terrazzo: 106,860 kg CO2 eq
Embodied Carbon Savings with Natural Stone:
78.3 metric tons CO2 eq
Countertops
Project Details:
Hotel w/300 Guest Rooms
585 m2 Countertops
Comparison per m2:
Natural Stone GWP: 46.8 kg CO2 eq
Engineered Quartz GWP: 102.6 kg CO2 eq
Total Project Impacts:
Natural Stone: 27,378 kg CO2 eq
Engineered Quartz: 60,021 kg CO2 eq
Embodied Carbon Savings with Natural Stone:
32.6 metric tons CO2 eq
The Industry-Wide EPDs published were funded in part by the Natural Stone Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Natural Stone Institute.
