Sustainable living is no longer just limited to carrying reusable grocery bags, repurposing used packaging, or turning away from fast fashion. It has now spread to the interior and architectural space, who are increasingly relying on production methods that encourage less waste and the use of recycled materials.
One of the companies in this industry looking to further embrace the circular economy is leading surface specialist Almería-based Cosentino, who this year unveiled its latest Sunlit Days collection. Comprised of the colours Faro White, Cincel Gray, Arcilla Red, Cala Blue, and Posidonia Green, this Mediterranean-inspired range is an evolution of the brand’s innovative Silestone®, a ground-breaking compound made of over 90% natural quartz that’s appreciated for its seamless surface and extraordinary durability.
To discover more about what exactly makes this collection so unique, and how it has become the company’s first Silestone® carbon-neutral collection, we speak to Iván Capelo, former interior designer and the current General Manager of Cosentino Malaysia. In this interview, he also shares with us some tips of how to best incorporate Sunlit Days into one’s home, and how the collection plays a part in preserving the Mediterranean seabed.
How did the idea for Sunlit Days first come about?
Sunlit Days is the first series that we have launched in the market as a result of the current undergoing internal and external transformation of the Silestone® brand. Externally, with a new corporate image, claiming values such as essence, innovation, responsibility or humanity; it brings us closer to the new generations through new communication codes. This new visual identity is also aligned with that internal transformation of Silestone and that translates into the exclusive and pioneering HybriQ® technology.
Sunlit Days is the result of this and also becomes the first Silestone® carbon-neutral collection. The Sunlit Days series was also inspired by the warm tones of the Mediterranean coast. The colours in this collection represent an immersive and sensory journey through light and colour, embracing the bright colour narrative that celebrates the nature found in the Mediterranean, inspired by human values and simple yet profound ways of living.
Tell us more about the HybriQ+® technology by Silestone® and its impact on the environment.
HybriQ+® is a technological innovation developed and patented by Cosentino that’s very sustainable and friendly to the environment. It contains a minimum of 20% recycled materials and uses a circular economy manufacturing process that uses only renewable electric energy and 99% reused water from production processes. In terms of composition, HybriQ® uses a new hybrid formulation of mineral raw materials with equal or better performance than quartz, synthetic minerals and materials of a recycled origin. This makes it possible to reduce the use of crystalline silica in the composition of Silestone® by 50%, achieving a reduction of up to 90% for some colours.
Considering that Sunlit Days is Silestone’s first carbon-neutral collection, how does it compare with Dekton®, which was officially recognised as carbon neutral in 2020?
Silestone® and Dekton® are two innovative and sustainable surfaces that complement each other perfectly. The ultra-compact surface Dekton® is a carbon neutral product from 2020. Carbon neutrality is achieved for the entire life cycle of the product, covering Scopes 1, 2 and 3, from the extraction of the raw material and the calculation of the direct and indirect emissions from its production cycle, and those derived from its use, to the end of the product’s life. This recognition, supported by emission reduction projects and Cosentino Group’s good practices in terms of sustainability and environmental management, was an important achievement in the role of the Spanish multinational in the fight against climate change.
Likewise, Silestone® Sunlit Days is the first carbon neutral collection in the quartz surfaces and engineered stone industry, a product type or category where it is more difficult to apply the circular economy and the reduction of the carbon footprint. To reach this new milestone in the industry, Cosentino commits to offsetting the CO2 emissions of the entire life cycle of the Silestone® Sunlit Days series. To this end, the company relies on different voluntary offsetting projects, duly certified and in the framework of the Voluntary Carbon Market. This initiative is also complemented by a partnership programme for the preservation of the seabed. With this a new milestone, we demonstrate once again our faithful commitment to sustainability.
How does selecting the right colour for different rooms affect sustainable interior design?
Colour plays a very important role in creating an atmosphere in the room. It can make it vibrant or relaxing, create the sensation of a bigger or smaller space and generate luminosity or intimacy. In this sense, light colours can reduce the use of electricity reducing the need of artificial light and therefore the consumption of energy.
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How would you use Sunlit Days in designing your own home?
There are multiple ideas and ways on how you can incorporate Sunlit Days into your home designs. For instance, I would opt for either the Cala Blue as it’s inspired by the breeze, its vastness and the infinite horizon. To complete the Mediterranean bath experience, you can even add calming bath salts and have your own Mediterranean spa at home.
As I am particularly fond of Mediterranean cuisines and would enjoy dining in a Mediterranean kitchen, I can now recreate the same dining experience inspired by rustic Tuscan dining in my home. To recreate that Mediterranean kitchen experience, I will opt for the passionate Arcilla Red, inspired by the Mediterranean breath of fire.
I will also incorporate the coastal experience in the living room by capturing the magic of the ocean by first selecting the Cala Blue with textures that feel like the caress of the sea and adapt it to the walls and floorings for a 360 degrees seaside ambience. As I am a coffee fan as well, I will also add a coffee table made with Faro White to be reminiscent of the white lighthouses that point the way for the ships on the Mediterranean coast.
What does the partnership with Equilibrio Marino mean for Cosentino, and how does it contribute towards preserving the Mediterranean seabed?
Equilibrio Marino is a non-profit environmental organisation, composed of divers, scientists and sea-lovers that works to restore and preserve marine ecosystems. Its projects are helping the sea with vital work of cleaning up and collecting abandoned plastics, nets and tools from reefs, seabeds, beaches and coasts. This NGO is committed to the clean-up of Posidonia meadows and the recovery of coral reefs in our seas.
Cosentino and Equilibrio Marino have joined forces through different collaborative projects in pursuit of a common goal, to give back to the sea the life it gives us. Posidonia Green and Cala Blue of Sunlit Days are two tones inspired by Equilibrio Marino. You can know this amazing story on the Silestone website.
What is the significance of the hybrid mineral surface in interior applications and how do they compare to other surface materials?
With more than 30 years at the forefront of the market, Silestone® offers to interior applications unique technical and design characteristics, such as high resistance and hardness, easy daily maintenance, high colour consistency and unparalleled beauty.
Over the past few years, Cosentino has developed the innovative and exclusive N-Boost and HybriQ® technologies. The use of these technologies has meant a qualitative leap in the evolution of Silestone® in terms of functionality, quality, beauty and sustainability. The aesthetic and design possibilities of Silestone® are limitless for architecture and design professionals: it is available in over 80 colours and a wide range of textures and formats. It is a perfect surface for a large number of applications in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as laboratories, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and other professional spaces.
To discover more about the Sunlit Days collection, visit the official Cosentino website.