🔥 Background: Why the ban?

Australia banned engineered stone with high crystalline silica content (like quartz countertops) starting July 2024, mainly due to rising cases of silicosis—a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust during cutting, grinding, or polishing the material. It’s primarily an occupational hazard for workers, not homeowners.

Quartz isn’t toxic to have in your home—the issue is with dust exposure during fabrication, which is being addressed. The industry is adapting fast with safer products and better safety practices, but public perception is definitely shifting. Expect a rise in alternative materials as homeowners become more cautious.