Over the past years, global warming, along with many environmental issues, has been a crucial topic all over the world. Agreements and declarations have been announced, and many efforts have been made to overcome this environmental challenge. Taking into consideration a heightened awareness of ecological impacts and far-reaching consequences on the environment, we at Hyundai L&C, have responded to this call by embracing eco-friendly practices and innovative approaches to our countertop creation.
At HanStone, we are bringing the Next Generation Quartz (NGQ) technology, showing our dedication to pushing the industry boundaries and redefining standards.
The three primary focuses of our NGQ technology effort are:
- The use of clean energy and recycled water.
- Decreased amount of crystalline silica.
- The beauty of our quartzite-looking colors.
Our effort for clean energy comes through our investment of approximately $4.6 million in solar panels strategically placed throughout our Sejong plant in Korea. This allowed us a significant decrease in CO2 emissions by approximately 690 tons and a 15% reduction in our energy use for HanStone and other products. Utilizing these solar panels along with recycled water, we have optimized our production lines to reduce energy and material consumption, embodying the dedication to sustainability and responsible manufacturing.
HanStone products have also seen a notable cut in the portion of crystalline silica in their composition through the use of premium material. Traditional quartz is generally composed of approximately 93% crystalline silica powder, 6% resin, and 1% additional materials. However, through the implementation of cutting-edge technology and premium materials, we are now able to create designs such as Elba White, which contains 65% crystalline silica; Le Blanc, Matterhorn, and Tahitian Cream, which contains 50% crystalline silica; and Bianco Cristallo, which contains 35% crystalline silica compared to the traditional quartz.
The benefits of this breakthrough extend beyond responsible manufacturing. When it comes to surface materials, the beauty of natural stones, especially quartzites, is hard to beat. Though it comes with inherent drawbacks, its aesthetic allure is unparalleled. But what if we can capture the best of both worlds? Along with the durability, chemical resistance, and ease of maintenance that quartz is renowned for, each slab showcases a new level of depth and translucency, faithfully mirroring the captivating beauty and sophistication of quartzites that have never been seen in quartz surfacing.
Our focus with Next Generation Quartz is to make people's lives more beautiful, doing so with products made through more sustainable practices and containing less crystalline silica.
With our Next Generation Quartz technology, we strive to set an example of forward-thinking innovation in both design and responsible manufacturing. Join us on this journey as we redefine what's possible in quartz design.