By Nigel F. Maynard
Caesarstone, a company known for quartz surfacing, has introduced a new countertop option that is crystalline silica-free and includes up to 80 percent recycled materials. The brand says it “delivers the perfect blend of beauty and sustainability.”
“Caesarstone ICON is more than just a new product line — it represents the culmination of decades of innovation in both design and sustainability,” says Erik Christensen, president of Caesarstone US. “From our early days as one of the pioneers in quartz surfaces to now leading the way with crystalline silica-free technology, we’ve continually evolved to exceed the needs of our customers and the industry. Caesarstone ICON is the next step in that journey, giving fabricators peace of mind while offering consumers a product that is as sustainable as it is stunning.”
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ICON is the brand’s new line of advanced fusion surfaces that are related to quartz but is not a quartz product. The company says the product utilizes a proprietary blend of materials, including recycled and “innovative components,” it is not made primarily of crystalline silica like their traditional quartz surfaces. ICON surfaces are designed “to offer similar aesthetics and performance characteristics to quartz, with the added benefit of being silica-free and more sustainable,” the company says.
The surfacing blend also addresses health risks associated with crystalline silica, which the company says is naturally present in many countertop materials and can pose health risks for fabricators and stoneworkers. Caesarstone says, however, that this new crystalline silica-free* surface is a world-class product that is safer for fabricators to work with when taking the necessary safety measures.
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Caesarstone says the launch of ICON represents the next evolution in the company’s mission to create high-performing surfaces that prioritize safety and environmental responsibility. The launch includes eight new colors with depth and dimension that were never before possible, as well as a phased transition of Caesarstone’s current quartz portfolio into advanced fusion surfaces.
The advanced fusion surfaces will be introduced to the market through the transition of 19 customer-favorite quartz products as well as the addition of eight new Caesarstone ICON designs. The company says this release features one of the largest assortments of crystalline silica-free* products currently available. In addition, the brand’s quartz surfaces started being replaced by the new, crystalline silica-free* and more sustainable versions in May of this year.
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“Caesarstone ICON surfaces offer groundbreaking design possibilities inspired by opalescent stones, flowing marble veining, and the reflections of water ripples,” the company says. “The eight new Caesarstone ICON colors include Calacatta Lacebound, Calacatta Nobella, Calacatta Thyme, Ocean Sage, Wild Storm, Wild Taj, Clearlight and Moonflow. These polished surfaces amplify dynamic interactions with light, generating a greater sense of depth, dimension, and character unlike anything the industry has seen before.”
*Caesarstone says the silica-free formulation may contain traces of crystalline silica of up to 1%.
