Lightdust™ — Turning quarry waste into a scalable polymer platform
Context
Quarrying and stone processing generate large volumes of fine mineral dust. When discharged into water, this by-product becomes sludge, creating serious environmental challenges for rivers, aquifers, and surrounding ecosystems—particularly in regions with intensive marble extraction.
Challenge
Marble sludge increases water turbidity, degrades aquatic habitats, and can introduce chemical contaminants into surface and groundwater systems. Existing disposal methods offered limited environmental relief and no viable path to material reuse at scale.
The challenge was to transform this waste into a performant, industrially viable material—without introducing additional environmental or logistical costs.
Approach
Over three years of research and development, Lightdust™ was developed as a patented polymer system combining:
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a base polymer made from 100% recycled polypropylene / polyethylene
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up to 50% filler derived from quarry and marble dust, sourced from diamond-wire sawing processes
The approach was intentionally adaptable: by using locally sourced quarry dust, the material can be tuned to regional resources, reducing transportation impact and enabling site-specific production strategies.
Material Development & Prototyping
Lightdust™ was engineered primarily for rotational molding, with adaptability for injection molding using specialized injectors. Extensive material trials focused on:
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mechanical durability
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surface quality and tactile perception
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consistency across batches and pigment variations
Unlike conventional mineral-filled polymers, Lightdust™ delivers a warm, tactile surface finish, opening new design and application possibilities for both indoor and outdoor use.
Outcome
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A patented, scalable polymer platform converting quarry waste into functional material
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Reduced environmental impact on water bodies and aquifer systems
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A flexible system suitable for regional deployment and industrial partnerships
Lightdust™ reframes quarry waste not as a disposal problem, but as a resource for material innovation.
Industrialization & Partnerships
Lightdust™ is manufactured in Switzerland by SIP Industrial Promotion, a specialist in high-tech polymer compounding with over 50 years of experience.
The project is now open to collaboration with compounders and industrial partners through licensing or joint development models.
Please visit https://www.lightdust.ch for more informations
