Without the technology we have today, the extraction and transportation of marble for the Carrara quarry was very difficult. Workers moved massive blocks of marble using manual labor, animals, and barges to cities like Florence and Rome. Transportation then was expensive and slow, so materials were sourced more locally, meaning marble was used only in the most magnificent of structures.
Today, marble has become a global commodity thanks to modern machinery and international shipping networks. High-quality Italian marble is sent worldwide, creating a massive demand and expectations for faster lead times. Technology has made extraction and transportation easier, but the supply chain has grown much more complex. Global sourcing means you can source premium materials from anywhere in the world, but it also contributes to the carbon emissions from trucks, ships and heavy equipment. Meaning a single block of marble has extremely high emissions tied to it over its lifecycle, making local sourcing, which was once forced out of a lack of technology, a more sustainable option even today.
Due to this, I think a Renaissance engineer would be astounded at the efficiency and scale of the modern marble industry, but might wonder whether it is worth its environmental costs.
Swanson School of Engineering 