The European Commission has awarded surface manufacturer Cosentino $95 million to develop a pioneering recycling facility that will transform industrial waste into construction materials.
The Circular Technology Quarry, selected as Spain's sole medium-scale project among 85 net-zero initiatives, will process over 100,000 tons of industrial sludge annually from Cosentino's manufacturing operations. The facility will convert this waste into 247,000 tons of raw materials yearly for Europe's construction, glass, and ceramic industries.
"This will be the biggest turning point in the sector globally for more than a decade," said Valentin Tijeras, vice president of global product, research and development, and quality at Cosentino.
The project, powered by renewable energy and heat recovery systems, is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than one million tons of CO₂ over 10 years. This initiative aligns with the European Green Deal Plan's goals for innovative net-zero technologies.
Cosentino plans to integrate this facility into its existing 990-acre Industrial Hub in Cantoria, Almeria, which already features nine factories and an automated warehouse system. The company expects to replicate this sustainable manufacturing model in Jacksonville, Florida, where it plans to open its first U.S. factory by 2028.
