UK Housing News
Herringbone Bans the Sale of High-Silica Quartz Through New UK Government and Parliament Petition
London, UK – On February 29, 2024, bespoke cabinet and furniture maker, Herringbone, became the first UK kitchen company to ban the use and selling of high-silica quartz in the wake of alarming findings from reputable sources, including the report from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the announcement of Australia becoming the first country to ban high-silica engineered stone due to health concerns by July 2024.
Since then, owners Elly Simmons and William Durrant have done even more research into the risks of high-silica products by meeting with stonemasons large and small and speaking to Dr. Jane Fazio and Dr. Carl Reynolds about their leading research into lung disease, silicosis and treatment of silicosis patients. This research and feedback have concluded that Herringbone alone cannot achieve a ban of high-silica quartz. Therefore, the company has set up a petition to take to parliament to get the UK government to consider a ban on these products as they are just not necessary, with so many great low silica options.
High-silica engineered stone will be banned in most parts of Australia from July this year and Herringbone believes it right that the UK follow suit. They want to encourage other companies to take steps to ban these products for themselves and take steps to use the vast amount of worktop alternatives available on the market. Silica is naturally occurring in stone such as granite, porcelain and marble at between 5-40%, however, in engineered quartz it can be as high as 97%. There are many beautiful colours and options for low-silica quartz so the risks of purchasing high-silica quartz are not necessary when there are alternatives on the market.
Elly Simmons and William Durrant
The family run business, based out of Canterbury in Kent, recognises the responsibility to prioritise the health of everyone in the supply chain by taking action against the use of high-silica quartz in the industry. Their commitment to their ethos and to being a progressive industry leader in their field continues through the partition and continued conversations with companies and individuals who have the same priorities.
William Durrant, owner of Herringbone said “We are pleased to have started a conversation in our industry and want to thank everyone for their support so far. We are aware that regulations are in place, however, we see no place for high-silica engineered quartz when so many other alternatives are readily available. By taking the petition to parliament we hope that we can make further impact and help make all stonemasons, fitters and people exposed to high-silica dust particles safe.”
Through experience, research and his treatment of UK patients with silicosis Dr. Carl Reynolds, Consultant in Respiratory and Acute Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust agrees saying “Silicosis is a devastating, incurable, and entirely preventable disease. It kills and causes serious disability in people of working age. The global artificial stone silicosis outbreak is a tragedy. I can see no justification for artificial high-silica stone use in the UK and fully support a ban.”
NPR
This stone is currently one of the dominant products in the market in the UK. Importantly, there are no risks to consumers once this product is installed, however the risk comes when it is produced and cut by stonemasons or cut on-site where dust is created. Herringbone is staying true to their ethos of using sustainable materials ethically sourced by asking their clients to pay slightly more for a worktop that is safer for stonemasons and many others.
To help us ban high-silica quartz in the UK market, please sign the petition here and should your workers or anyone you know have any worries about their own lung health please contact Dr. Carl Reynolds via carl.reynolds@nhs.net.
