Cosentino on creativity, courage, integrity – and noticing the problem before it escalates

Cosentino’s story of endurance, unyielding relevance, and genuine leadership is anchored by the unapologetic pursuit of a better tomorrow, and punctuated by transformational innovations that consistently evolve not only the way we design our interiors but also how we live our lives as we occupy them. From groundbreaking products that irreversibly shift the role and capability of architecture and design to the brand’s proactive work with unions and governments on improving worker safety and industry regulations, Cosentino’s brand of leadership is a distinct one – and comes from their unique ability to notice the problem before it becomes urgent and address it with courage and creativity. And from becoming the change they want to see in the industry – and the world. 

So today, as Cosentino celebrates the launch of yet another trailblazing technology and surface product portfolio – the zero crystalline silica Xeron®– we look back at their incredible legacy, and muse about where they may lead the sustainable surface industry next. 

Optimistic defiance etched in stone

The Cosentino narrative begins in southern Spain, where a small enterprise took root just after the end of World War II. Driven by the profound desire to respect the Earth’s resources, foster the vitality of the local community and nurture the significance of enduring stewardship, Cosentino’s inception story is one of optimistic defiance, considered action and unbound innovation. The main protagonists? Eduardo Cosentino and Eduarda Justo, a couple of Italian immigrants who set up a modest family marble manufacturing workshop, setting the brand’s trajectory of pioneering innovation into motion. 

“What truly set Cosentino apart early on was its willingness to question traditional methods and invest in innovation,” explains Alexandra Tomasi, Marketing Manager – Oceania. “And not just for market leadership, but for environmental betterment.”

This proactive approach was sparked by a critical realisation: the unsustainable levels of waste generated by traditional stone quarrying practices. Instead of accepting this as an unavoidable consequence, Cosentino’s pioneering founders not only dared to imagine more sustainable ways of sourcing stone but actually had the courage to reimagine the entire process. “That moment was truly foundational, sparking a complete rethinking of how surfaces could be designed,” Tomasi enthuses. “Rather than mining more, Cosentino set out to engineer better.”

This initial embrace of circular thinking became the cornerstone of their unwavering commitment to sustainable innovation, a guiding principle that continues to shape every facet of the company today.

The recurring epiphany and ethos of firsts

At the same time, the singular moment of foundational epiphany has consistently materialised itself in innovative product launches that have marked Cosentino’s sustainable efforts ever since. In 2013, the brand launched Dekton®, the only ultra-compact carbon-neutral cradle-to-grave surface available on the market.

“Dekton® was born from an ambitious goal: to engineer a surface that combined beauty, extreme durability, and environmental responsibility,” Tomasi explains. “Achieving this required years of R&D and significant investment in proprietary Sinterized Particle Technology (TSP), which fuses raw materials at high temperatures to create an ultra-compact porcelain surface.”

But these efforts paid off – launching Xeron® as the first carbon-neutral surface in its category was a defining moment for both Cosentino, and the industry at large. “It set a new standard for what a high-performance, sustainable surface could be,” Tomasi adds. “And its low-silica content – introduced well before current health regulations – demonstrated our foresight and leadership in material health and safety.”


Leading with care and integrity

More recently, Cosentino has also launched Xeron®, one of the first engineered stones on the market with no silica. This development is particularly relevant in Australia, where concerns over silicosis have led to increased regulatory scrutiny and bans on engineered stone.

Xeron® has been designed and manufactured exclusively for the Australian market and is not just a profoundly considered and compliant response to the needs of the local architects, designers, specifiers and workers, but also Cosentino’s very first 0% silica offer for engineered stone.

Cosentino has been actively engaged with unions and government bodies in Australia over the past several years, contributing to discussions and initiatives aimed at improving safety standards and practices within the industry. “By investing early in silica-free and low-silica technologies, Cosentino demonstrated not just regulatory compliance, but a values-driven commitment to worker safety and material innovation,” Tomasi says proudly. “This aligns with our broader pioneering philosophy: lead with integrity, not obligation.

Nurturing conviction and generational mindset

This guiding concept of integrity has been an essential element of Cosentino’s journey, irrecoverably linked to their unwavering commitment to family values. This family-owned structure has exerted a powerful influence on their organisational evolution and sustainability journey.

“Cosentino has always operated with a generational mindset,” explains Tomasi. “Decisions aren’t made for the next quarter – they’re made for the next decade. That long-term view is what has allowed our organisation to lead with conviction in sustainability, even when the market or regulatory environment wasn’t demanding it yet.”

This deep sense of responsibility – to their employees, the communities they serve, and future generations – permeates everything from their rigorous product research and development to their substantial investments in renewable energy sources and waste reduction strategies. And their achievements in these areas are, to say the least, really impressive.

Setting new standards for sustainable manufacturing

All of Cosentino’s production facilities are powered entirely by renewable electricity sources and use 99% recycled water usage across manufacturing. Plus, they boast logistics systems that reduce carbon emissions through multimodal transport, and the Circular Economy Hub in their Spanish industrial park maximises material reuse, while minimising waste. In fact, Cosentino’s Smart Green Factory sets a new standard for sustainable manufacturing in the industry. And they’re not stopping there.

“One initiative we’re particularly proud of is our integrated Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), which offer full transparency into the lifecycle and health impacts of our materials,” Tomasi adds. “These tools empower architects and designers to make informed, responsible choices.”


Innovation over compromise

Whether it’s the creation of the world’s first ultra-compact, carbon-neutral cradle-to-grave porcelain surface, removing crystalline silica from an engineered stone surface or creating manufacturing facilities that shift sustainability standards for the industry, each of these milestones was born from an insight or a challenge that Cosentino chose to meet with innovation – not compromise. And this is the outlook they’ll be taking into the future.

“The future of sustainable design will be defined by circularity, transparency, and decarbonisation, and Cosentino is fully committed to all three,” Tomasi explains. Where is the company focusing its energy and resources? “We’re investing in next-generation biomaterials and binders with even lower environmental impact and exploring both closed-loop recycling systems within our manufacturing chain, and AI-driven design tools to reduce waste in project planning and fabrication.

A legacy of purposeful progress

That’s significantly more than many other future-forward manufacturers claiming to be prioritising sustainability. But that’s because Cosentino’s vision isn’t to be just a sustainable manufacturer – they want to be a regenerative force that actively improves and enhances the built environment, rather than simply reducing its impact. That’s why, Cosentino’s pioneering eyes are already firmly set on the future challenges. 

“True leadership comes from seeing the problem before it becomes urgent – and acting on it with courage and creativity,” Tomasi describes. “Cosentino didn’t wait for regulation to change – we changed ourselves first. Whether it’s reducing silica, lowering carbon emissions, or creating entirely new materials, we’ve always believed that innovation should serve people and the planet. And so, for architects and designers, partnering with Cosentino means joining a legacy of purposeful progress. It’s about co-creating a built environment that’s not only beautiful and functional – but safe, ethical, and sustainable for generations to come.”