The Architects Talk, part of the 3rd Architects Show, took place last weekend. Leading names in architecture and marble industries attended. Among the guests was the head of the Association of Marble Companies of Macedonia-Thrace, Greece, Julie Chaida.
Mrs Chaida participated in panels on materials, sustainability, architecture, and design. She spoke on specific issues and, among other things, talked about her beginning in the marble industry, the role of Greek marble in the global market, but also its sustainability as a material and its relationship with new technologies.
Mrs Chaida has been the President of the Association since February 2020. However, her relationship with the marble industry began years ago with her involvement in the family business and a passion for the promoting of Greek marble abroad. “I have been working for the company for 34 consecutive years, and I can say that I’ve loved my job and the material itself very much.”
During the panel, she talked about marble, its quality as a material and its use from antiquity until today. She said, “Marble is a timeless material that was used since antiquity in emblematic works, in columns and works of art. So, I believe that in the public perception, marble has a shine, a luxury”.
Greek marbles’ association with majestic masterpieces of antiquity and their variety in types and colours make them sought after globally. As a result, Greece ranks among the most influential marble exporters in the world market.
According to Mrs Chaida, this circumstance is of great importance. “I would like to note that we export 76% of Greek marble to more than 120 countries and there’s been a continuous increase in its exports in recent years. This increase ranks our country in 4th place globally, despite the Greek economic recession in the last decade”.
In addition, Mrs Chaida stressed the importance of new commercial approaches to keep the industry in pace with the current technological developments. “Our Association is taking the necessary steps to finance the implementation of a strategic plan for the Promotion of Greek Marble. The plan aims to create a brand name- the Greek marble- by drafting a targeted strategy”.
Furthermore, Mrs Chaida spoke on the viability of the marble and how to utilise it without losses. She emphasised that sustainability is the balance between production and raw materials with lower costs.
On the topic of sustainable practices in mining, she also referred to underground mining- an environmentally friendly method- which is already applied by the company Iktinos. “In the context of innovation, our company implements underground mining with satisfactory results, achieving selective attack and extraction of marble material and the reduction of the environmental footprint.”
At the same time, she highlighted that in line with the goals of the UN Sustainable Development, the company applies a pioneering method “to rescue the materials that we used in production without any damage or loss.”
Finally, it is worth noting that the company Iktinos has been included in the ATHEX ESG index of the ASE, which is an index that monitors companies that adopt environmentally, socially, and corporate-aware practices. “This integration proves that IKTINOS is in line with the environmental policy goals of Greece and the European Union, but also with the global requirements for environmental protection.”
