We celebrate World Environment Day by inviting you to act for a circular economy. And obilizing waste collection in natural or local areas. Because all of us: Governments, Businesses, People. We are part of the change.

Here are some ideas:

• Collect and recycle plastics from a beach or a riverbed.
• Avoid consuming single-use plastics during the day and be conscious.
• Recycle plastics that cannot be avoided.
• Tell others so they will be inspired and join the change.

If you share your photos on social networks, remember to mention us @GrupoCosentino and send it to us by Direct Message so we can republish it on our profile and reach further together.

#BeatPlasticPollution  #WeActBecauseWeCare  @GrupoCosentino

The concept of ‘carbon neutral’ has been in vogue in recent years, as achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is one of the goals to which the European Union committed in Paris in 2015.

To achieve this goal, we all need to play our part, and we can start to do so by building our own homes and buildings, as the construction sector is one of the most polluting and wasteful sectors. It is no coincidence that the European Union has decided to undertake the renovation of more than 35 million buildings in Europe, both public and private, through the Next Generation funds.

Do you want to know how to achieve a carbon neutral home and join the change? If your answer is yes, then this article is for you.

What is ‘carbon neutral’ and what does it imply?

We can say that a process is carbon neutral when its greenhouse gas emissions are 0, i.e. when the same amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere is reduced by other means, which means achieving a zero carbon footprint.

There are different ways to achieve carbon neutrality: the first and most obvious is to emit only the CO2 that can be naturally absorbed by nature through its forests, soil and oceans.

Another way to achieve carbon neutrality is through offsetting, by investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency and other technologies aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by different means.

Achieving carbon neutrality is important for several reasons:

• Achieving cleaner air, which translates into better health for all of us
• Achieving sustainable economic growth
• Producing safer and healthier food
• Halting biodiversity loss
• Improving the health of seas and oceans

How to achieve a carbon neutral home

From the design and architecture sectors to individuals, we can all contribute to achieving global carbon neutrality by investing in renovation projects aimed at improving the efficiency and insulation of homes and public buildings. Indeed, now that the EU is offering grants to encourage such improvements, it is the right time to opt for carbon neutral products.

Here are some of the steps to follow to achieve a carbon neutral home or building:

• Using bioclimatic architecture. This means taking into account the weather conditions and the local context when planning the building, to make the most of natural light and passively regulating natural resources, playing with the materials used and the orientation of the building.
• Using natural, carbon neutral and locally sourced materials. It is important to choose materials with the smallest possible carbon footprint, such as our innovative Dekton by Cosentino surface, the first brand to be certified carbon neutral for its entire life cycle.
• Efficient appliances and lighting. Household appliances represent the highest percentage of electricity consumption in a house. Therefore, we must choose the most efficient appliances when renovating our home in order to achieve neutrality.
• Investing in new windows to improve insulation and new ventilation systems with heat recovery. When it comes to insulation and energy efficiency, windows and doors are key players in renovation projects. In order to choose the most appropriate system, the local weather conditions must be taken into account so as to benefit from maximum comfort in both winter and summer. In addition to this, buildings should incorporate heat recovery ventilation systems to let fresh air into indoor spaces and thus prevent condensation.
• Incorporating energy production systems in buildings and homes to achieve an overall positive energy contribution. In this respect, the most common systems are photovoltaic panels, micro wind turbines and geothermal and aerothermal energy.

How we have made Dekton a carbon neutral product

Dekton is our high performance, ultra-compact surface manufactured with highly durable materials. Its main properties include high resistance to scratches, stains and high temperatures. It is also resistant to impacts, abrasion, temperature changes and does not absorb water. As a result, it can be used both indoors and outdoors, from worktops, floors, façades, claddings and swimming pools to furniture. Its applications are limitless!

In 2020, after much work and investment in innovation, carbon neutrality was achieved for the entire life cycle of Dekton, from the extraction of the raw material, to the use of the product and the end of its life, through UN-certified emission reduction and compensation projects.

In addition, an emission reduction plan has been implemented. In the case of Dekton, the plan has led to a 7% decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions thanks to the implementation of the best available techniques and process optimisation. Finally, in order to achieve carbon neutrality, Dekton has offset its emissions by investing in GHG emission reduction projects.

These offset projects are endorsed by public institutions such as governments and the UN, and are often aimed at promoting renewable energy in developing countries. By investing in such projects, Cosentino offsets its carbon footprint to zero.

“At Cosentino we are moving forward with an international momentum towards the full transition to a low-carbon economy, promoting energy efficiency, emissions reduction and sustainable mobility. This approach is part of our innovative character and allows us to improve processes with a vision of the future and, ultimately, combines our performance with strategic goals such as innovation (SDG 9), sustainable production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13)”, says Antonio Urdiales, Environment Director of Grupo Cosentino.