Cosentino launches a global challenge to unlock new uses for Silestone® manufacturing waste

• The open innovation challenge hosted on the ennomotive platform seeks marketable and sustainable opportunities to valorize Silestone® waste.

• This challenge is part of Cosentino's sustainability strategy and its Technology Quarry (CT Quarry) project, supported by the European Innovation Fund.

Madrid, 26th June 2025.- Cosentino, a global leader in innovative surfaces for architecture and design, has launched a new challenge in collaboration with ennomotive to identify profitable industrial applications that enable the valorization of the waste generated during the manufacturing of its product Silestone®.

Despite the high efficiency of its production processes, Silestone® manufacturing generates over 100,000 tons annually of a waste material resulting from calibration and polishing. This waste consists of various minerals, polymers, paper traces, and water. With micrometric granulometry, low heavy metal content, and high hardness, this waste could potentially serve as raw material in new industrial applications beyond already explored uses such as asphalt or concrete.

The goal of the challenge is to find innovative solutions—processes, products, or applications—that can valorize this waste and unlock new usage opportunities. Proposals should include a business case and technical and commercial viability evidence. Special consideration will be given to proposals with proven interest from companies in reusing the waste.

This challenge is open to engineers, universities, technology centers, startups, and companies from all over the world. Interested participants must register at www.ennomotive.com, join the challenge, and submit their proposal by July 29, 2025.

Up to three finalist proposals will receive a €3,000 prize each and the best solution will receive an additional €7,000 following successful validation through a pilot test. Participating companies may also be considered for commercial agreements and co-funding of a pilot project.

Source: https://www.ennomotive.com/challenge/waste-valorization-in-silestone-manufacturing/