Design and construction

Stone ethics

For once I am pleased to hear that prices are going up. Indian

sandstone has been used within the construction industry for some

years now. Sandstone is a good, durable and attractive paving

material. It comes in many colours – some called sandstone, but

actually limestone. However, it’s often chosen by contractors not

because of its aesthetic appearance, but because it can be bought

cheaply. Many small, independent importers jumped on the sandstone

bandwagon and imported crates of stone to sell on to garden centres,

builders’ merchants and landscape companies. However, sandstone

was cheap for only one reason. Women and children are used to

quarry the stone in India, earning 60p per day.

Because of pressure from concerned parties, and contractors who

insist on sandstone from ethical sources, the price of sandstone will

rise this year – in some cases by 38 per cent. How can it be that

stone, all the way from India, which is quarried and transported

thousands of miles and involving many people in the supply chain, can

be cheaper than a locally bought and quarried stone? It’s quite simple

when you don’t pay any of that supply chain properly or decently.

Many builders’ merchants, including Travis Perkins, Marshalls and

Benton Weatherstone, make absolutely sure that their sandstone is

ethically sourced. Their entire Indian supply chain, right back to the

quarries themselves, is audited to ensure compliance with the

International Labour Organisation. Sandstone comes in a number of

paving sizes, but the smaller ‘setts’ are often made by children.

Marshalls import larger pieces of stone and make the setts

themselves at their processing plant.

A well-run and legislated quarry will not employ women and

children and will use proper protective equipment. They will also

provide welfare and sick-pay for their workers. Quite often the

workers live on site too, so the constant dust at the quarry can cause

breathing issues – similar to ‘miner’s lung’. Sandstone will be used for

20 per cent of the UK domestic paving in the next ten years and I

believe it is extremely important to be aware of the impact of

irresponsible quarrying – both in human and environmental terms.

As a company, we only use suppliers of Indian sandstone whom

we know to adhere to the strict code of practice for the manufacture

and supply. If you use a contractor to build a patio or steps for you,

please check the authenticity of the products they supply to you. The

same strict code of practice applies to wood products too. The

difference between checking and not caring could mean a world of

difference to a child worker.