Ikea joins Bunnings in banning engineered stone products linked to silicosis

Ikea will ban engineered stone from its product range, including benchtops, and has called for a national approach from governments. Photograph: photovs/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Swedish furniture giant Ikea has become the latest household name to ban engineered stone from its product range.

The homeware superstore was criticised by the construction workers’ union for selling the composite material, made from crushed quartz and resin, despite evidence that its toxic dust causes the fatal lung disease silicosis.