This afternoon, @stonesurfacesshow , we’re hosting a panel discussion on the Stone & Surfaces Main Stage, which will explore the low-carbon potential of hybrid stone and timber construction.
@waughthistletonarchitects ’ ‘Trehus’ project will be used as the focus for discussions; a scheme which, by using a hybrid solution of stone and timber, reduced the embodied carbon by 40% compared to a traditional, steel-framed building.
The panel will include Kirsten Haggart of @waughthistletonarchitects , Jordan Poultney of @albionstone , and Mark Berridge of @hesstimber , and will be hosted by Stone Federation’s Matt Robb.
Join us at 3pm for what promises to be an inspiring and informative session.
#ChooseNaturalStone #Architecture #Sustainabilty #Design
This week, we’re speaking @futurebuildnow on the Buildings & Materials Stage.
In a moment when the construction sector is working hard to deliver a more sustainable built environment, could the solution be found in one of the oldest building materials, arguably, the original sustainable material…natural stone.
In this session, we will be exploring how natural stone has the potential to play a significant role in delivering a low-carbon built environment.
We’ll be hearing from Alex Lynes of @webbyates , Peter Fisher of @bennettsassociates , and Amin Taha of @groupwork_arch .
The session will be on Thursday 14th May at 11.15am.
#ChooseNaturalStone #Architecture #Sustainability
This week, we had the privilege of hosting the EUROROC London Summit.
In September, at Marmomac, Stone Federation Past President, Marcus Paine of @huttonstonecoltd was voted in as the 2025-27 Euroroc President, and the summit was part of his drive to strengthen and develop the association.
Across the two days, we took our European counterparts on a walking tour across London, exploring a range of projects from the Earls Court Stone Demonstrator and 15 Clerkenwell Close to The Ned, No 1 Poultry and St Paul's Cathedral.
The second day was the Euroroc London Symposium with a range of inspiring and informative presentations covering everything from structural stone, fire testing and EPDs through to stone interiors and a case study on the Natural History Museum's Evolution Garden.
The summit also included a number of occasions to network over food and build strong relationships across the European natural stone associations.
A big 'thank you' to our summit sponsors, @huttonstonecoltd Stone, @payestoneworkandrestoration and @surfacethinking for their support and also to our walking tour guides and speakers, Amin Taha, Robert Greer, David Richardson, Peter Harrison, Hermann Graser, Lisa Nunn, Graham Lee, Giles Heap, Raul Moura da Silva, Frank Oosterlinck, Pierre Bidaud and Marcus Paine.
#ChooseNaturalStone #Euroroc
Today is #EarthDay and therefore, an ideal opportunity to put a spotlight on the low-carbon credentials of #NaturalStone.
There is an ever-growing number of research papers, articles, and projects that objectively demonstrate that natural stone really is the original sustainable construction material.
EPDs are just one of the ways that stone suppliers are demonstrating just how sustainable natural stone is, and here are just a few headline statistics to give a sense of stone's low-carbon credentials:
- Verified UK Limestone EPD (@albionstone ) has a 137% lower embodied carbon figure than pre-cast concrete EPD.
- Swiss research body, MDPI found that the shift from concrete to structural stone construction could save the construction industry up to 75% on its carbon output.
- A study by German body, DNV found that natural stone has a 75% lower GWP than large-format ceramics
Stone Federation is collaborating with our members as well as our counterparts across the natural stone industry, including EUROROC, @naturalstoneinstitute , @centrorochas ,@marmomacchine , @assimagra_pmr , @kivi_stonefromfinland and many others to continue to grow the evidence base for the sustainability of natural stone.
In a moment when the construction sector is working hard to deliver a more sustainable built environment, could the solution be found in one of the oldest building materials, arguably, the original sustainable material…natural stone.
#EarthDay #ChooseNaturalStone #Sustainabilty #Architecture #Design
Stone Federation Members...there is still time to book your place on our Industry New Starters Course
'New Starters: An Introduction to Natural Stone and the Industry' is a 1/2 day course hosted both in-person and online, making it as easy as possible for members to take advantage of the opportunity.
The course is aimed at those new to the natural stone industry or those looking for a general refresher. Course content will cover:
- Geology, stone selection and installation considerations
- Product standards, testing and investigation
- Natural stone project pipeline explained
- Natural stone: the sustainable solution
- Marketing stone: The story behind the material
This course will be hosted both in-person and online and include a buffet lunch for those attending in person, giving a great opportunity to network with others in the industry.
When: Tuesday 7th May, 9.30 am - 2 pm
Where: The Society Building, 55 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4AH, and Online
Cost: £100 + VAT (in person) or £85.00 + VAT (online).
To book your place(s), please email [email protected]. Please note this course is exclusively for Stone Federation members.
#Training #NaturalStone
**Hot Mixed Lime Training Day **
There is still time to book your place on the Hot Mixed Lime training day that Stone Federation is delivering in partnership with Stone Federation member, @clivedenconservation .
This will be a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with hot mixed lime mortar techniques within the grounds of Reading Abbey Ruins, a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
This full-day CPD course combines classroom theory with supervised practical sessions and will be ideal for conservation professionals, architects, surveyors and skilled tradespeople.
The course content will cover a wide range of topics including:
- An Introduction to Lime Mortar in Historic Buildings
- The application of lime mortars with mixing demonstrations using different binders
- H&S toolbox talks
- Techniques for pointing, consolidation, and tending
Delegates will have the chance to put their knowledge into practice on the Reading Abbey Ruin walls.
When: 12th May, 10 am - 4 pm
Where: Reading Abbey Ruins Abbey St, Reading RG1 3BA
Cost: £225 + VAT
To book your place(s), please email [email protected]
#Heritage #Stonemasonry #Training
Why do so many landscape architects and clients choose to use a Stone Federation Member as their stone supplier?
All our Stone Federation members are:
- Vetted and approved by a thorough application process.
- Supported by a wide range of technical publications and helplines to enable them to deliver excellent projects.
- Signatories of the Stone Federation Sustainability Statement (view here www.bit.ly/45ffC7R) which encourages them to act, measure, disclose, target, and adjust their environmental impacts in line with the Government’s own Net Zero Carbon targets for the construction industry.
Start your search for a Stone Federation Landscape Stone Supplier member by clicking the link in our bio.
#ChooseNaturalStone #LandscapeArchitecture #GardenDesign #IndustryLeaders
Natural Stone & Swimming Pools
Natural stone has been used by designers and architects to create truly unique places for centuries.
In recent years, we have seen a marked increase in the number of designers utilising the beauty, durability, and sustainability of natural stone to create swimming pools.
Last year, Stone Federation published a new Natural Stone Swimming Pools Code of Practice, which aims to help designers and architects take full advantage of the potential that natural stone provides.
This comprehensive document is an ideal resource for any designer looking to learn how to correctly design, install, and maintain natural stone swimming pools.
This document pulls on the expertise of some of the stone industry’s leading experts and references all of the relevant British and European standards.
To access the publication, click the link in our bio.
Please note that our publications are not available to companies who could be members of Stone Federation but are not.
#ChooseNaturalStone #Design #SwimmingPool
"Spolia, then, is not just reuse—it is material intelligence. It honours the labour embedded in the past while equipping us to build responsibly for the future. Stone, among the most inherently circular of materials, demonstrates this principle with particular clarity. What was once the spoils of conquest now becomes the resource of survival."
Our latest guest blog comes from Robert Greer, Director at Stone Federation member, @payestoneworkandrestoration , who wrote a piece about the practice of Spolia in architecture.
Featured in Edition 4 of our Natural Stone Journal, this article explores the ancient wisdom of spolia in the context of the modern retrofit conversation.
To read the full article, click the link in our bio.
#ChooseNaturalStone #Sustainability #Spolia #Retrofit
There are just a few days left to enter your projects for the 2026 Natural Stone Awards, as the entry closes on Friday 20th March at 5 pm.
The Natural Stone Awards exist to celebrate and showcase the very best that the natural stone sector has to offer, recognising projects from all sectors of the industry.
Entries can be made by anyone involved in the project, including the architect, main contractor, stone contractor, stone supplier, client or building owner.
Stone Federation’s Chief Executive, Jane Buxey, commented,
“We are encouraging all those involved in the natural stone industry to enter their projects into the 2026 Natural Stone Awards. This is a great opportunity to gain widespread recognition for your practice or company and products or services that you provide.”
To find out more information about the categories or to start your project entry, click the link in our bio.
#NaturalStoneAwards #ChooseNaturalStone #Architecture #LandscapeArchitecture #Heritage #InteriorDesign #Sustainability
What an incredible evening celebrating International Women’s Day with our WINS Panel Event ‘How did you come into the stone industry’.
Our inspiring panellists, Lisa Nunn from FMDC Ltd, Isobel Brodrick from DBR Limited, Emily Guest from Stonewest Ltd and Christine Ellis from Laing O’Rourke, shared their experiences of working across the natural stone sector and their journey into the industry.
The discussion highlighted the many different pathways into the sector, the challenges and opportunities along the way, and the importance of supporting and encouraging more women to build careers in natural stone.
It was fantastic to see so many people attend, connect and contribute to such an engaging and positive conversation.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our sponsors DBR Limited and Vetter UK for supporting Women in Natural Stone and helping make events like this possible.
#WomenInNaturalStone #StoneFederationGB #InternationalWomensDay #IWD #WomenInConstruction
On Friday @johnwhitbyfordales , MP for Derbyshire Dales, visited the @nationalstonecentre in Derbyshire. He met with Stone Federation and the Institute of Quarrying who are based there. It was a fantastic meeting we outlined the supply chain of the natural stone industry and where support would be best given in order to meet housing targets as well as getting young people into skilled work.
#StoneFederationGB #NaturalStone #NationalStoneCentre #InstituteofQuarrying
