Go out and buy any appliance or device larger than a stick of gum, and you’ll get something showing its environmental impact. That same kind of information is now beginning to show up with the materials you’re cutting in the shop, as well as more details about those sealers or adhesives in use. From there, it’s inevitable that, sometime in the not-too-distant future, regulators and consumers are going to put the question to you: How green is your business? Many premium manufactured-surface producers, along with leading natural-stone quarriers, offer details about components through health and environmental product declarations (HPDs and EPDs). Sustainability awareness is growing in the industry, albeit not exactly for altruistic advantages. More and more large-and middle-scale projects in the public and private sectors are carrying some kind of sustainability goal. That includes the rating and classification of materials and processes. And, a growing number of general contractors tout their abilities to work under green guidelines. So why not fabrication shops? I’ll be clear from the start — this isn’t for every shop out there. Saving the planet is a laudable mission for any business, but the typical bread-and-butter clients -- homeowners redoing a kitchen or small-business owners looking for new service counters and displays –aren’t likely to list your shop’s sustainability rating as an important factor. Or will they? Customer trends and behaviors are changing faster than we might perceive. Younger clients are going to be more attuned to product responsibility and enviro-friendly means of production. They may not demand it in droves, but they’ll be easily attracted if green-related materials and methods are mentioned. Don’t be surprised when even the smallest commercial or public-sector RFP requires sustainable metrics. Whether you’re making the bid or working as a sub-contractor, sooner or later they’ll want to know your track record on projects and your shop’s operations. Products coming into the shop are getting more environmentally friendly, but it’s not solely because producers are looking to score points with LEED® ratings or just be a jovial member of the Good Global Citizen Club. It’s something you’ll see more of because of regulations from all levels of government, especially with workplace safety. At the forefront, of course, is silicosis. The current controversy in Australia, and the possible banning of quartz surfaces with high-content silica, is having a knock-on effect worldwide. The actions on the island continent are significant enough to rate newer quartz surfaces where silica content drops from 90%-plus to 40% for starters, or takes that key ingredient out and substitutes safer (albeit not risk-free) minerals. The continuing concern over silicosis led to a lively and honest discussion among fabricators and product producers at the recent International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) summit in Raleigh, N.C. The conversation dovetailed into discussion of material-specifications on projects, as well as workplace safety and production. If we’re being instructed by customers to find greener products, shouldn’t we be shaping and delivering them in a way that matches the makeup and intent of those products? How about a way to measure and recognize, at the shop level, sustainable production? The ISFA meeting didn’t come up with any set definitions, let alone a stated goal or plan. The discussion was more brainstorming than anything else. I’m writing this on an airliner heading back home from Raleigh. I saw what took place at the meeting, and the idea is something more than a fleeting notion, like the fading sunset outside my window, that fades away after all the participants go back to day-to-day operations. As I noted before, the idea of a green-rated shop isn’t going to appeal to everyone. And the scope may turn out to be fairly general, as in a code of best practices. But, it’s something that many fabricators are already working on with better energy use, production efficiency, and waste recycling. So why not have an official recognition of those efforts? Defining and promoting the sustainable fabrication shop is a solid concept and worth some coordinated efforts in the hard-surface industry. Don’t let the idea go to waste.