Abstract Brazil hosts exceptional geological diversity and ranks among the world’s leading producers and exporters of ornamental stones. Despite this competitive position, up to 83% of extracted material becomes waste during quarrying and processing, generating significant environmental liabilities and loss of economic value. Within a circular economy framework, this review evaluates the potential of ornamental stone residues as secondary raw materials. The study synthesizes recent technological advances, market trends, industrial practices, and regulatory frameworks in Brazil and globally, with emphasis on applications in construction materials, engineered stone, industrial processes, and agricultural soil remineralization. The results indicate that these residues can be effectively reintegrated into productive systems, contributing to reduced extraction of virgin resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improved material efficiency. Case studies demonstrate technical feasibility across multiple sectors, while emphasizing the need for chemical characterization and environmental monitoring, particularly in agricultural applications. From a systems perspective, residue valorization supports the transition from linear to circular production models through material recirculation, industrial symbiosis, and value-added product development. However, large-scale implementation remains constrained by material variability, lack of standardization, limited technological adoption, and regulatory gaps. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated public policies, technical standards, investment in processing technologies, and strengthened collaboration among academia, industry and government. The adoption of circular strategies in the ornamental stone sector represents a strategic opportunity for Brazil to enhance sustainability, resource efficiency, and global competitiveness. Graphical Abstract
Rosato et al. (2026) studied this question.