Circular economy in marble scraps and good practices

Circular economy (CE) represents a strategic paradigm for the transition toward a sustainable industrial model, grounded in waste reduction, reuse, and resource enhancement. However, CE actions should be implemented by companies not only for ethical and social reasons, but above all to achieve economic benefits. Within the natural stone industry, this approach translates into the optimization of the entire material life cycle, from extraction to processing, and ultimately to waste/scraps management. The distinctive features of the sector—characterized by a high volume of by-products and scraps—make the adoption of circular practices particularly relevant. These include the reuse of stone materials in construction and the recovery of useful mineral species for industrial applications. The paper is focussed on the types and characteristics of scraps derived from carbonaceous stones (marble and limestone) quarries and processing plants with particular emphasis to the microfine scraps. Subsequently, real-world case studies of stone material reuse will be presented. Finally, the concept of the storage area will be examined, reframing it not as a landfill, but rather as a temporary storage dedicated to the enhancement of secondary raw materials.