The love of life, family, friends, and healthy food has inspired COSTA NOVA to create fine stoneware collections that combine quality and design with the best ceramic craftsmanship.
The brand produces innovative and sustainable stoneware made from the best natural resources in Portugal.
COSTA NOVA was born in a small Portuguese fishing village, near the Atlantic Ocean. Nowadays, carrying Portugal’s name and heritage worldwide, the brand is present across the 5 continents, in prestigious department stores, boutiques, hotels, and renowned restaurants.
COSTA NOVA Industria Group
The COSTA NOVA Industria Group traces its roots back to Grestel - Produtos Cerâmicos, established in 1998 and located in Vagos, Portugal. Grestel has been committed to crafting high-quality stoneware tableware, ovenware, and serving accessories for more than 25 years.
Today, the Costa Nova Industria Group has achieved global recognition as a leading Portuguese stoneware manufacturer, overseeing a portfolio of four factories (Grestel 1, Grestel 2, Grestel 3, and the latest addition in 2023, Ecogres), and managing two distinguished brands - Costa Nova and Casafina by COSTA NOVA.
The company is also involved in Private Label, producing tableware for renowned international brands.
Its products are sold on all five continents and are showcased in some of the world's most prestigious stores and hotels. Between 85 and 90% of the production is intended for export, with the United States serving as the primary market.
What sets us apart?
Innovative and sustainable design
Unique, timeless, yet contemporary collections designed for professionals
who value innovative table-setting solutions.
Raw material
Made from the best natural resources in Portugal.
Local clays - Kaolin, Feldspar and Silica.
Single firing system heated up to 1180°C/ 2160°F
Unique ceramic body. Totally vitrified.
Highly resistant to both thermal and mechanical shocks.
Oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe
It withstands temperatures from - 20°C to 250°C.
Food safe
All products comply with the International Standards concerning to lead and cadmium.
They are food safe.
Artisan Craftsmanship
All COSTA NOVA fine stoneware products are hand-finished, giving each piece its unique character. Any irregularities, color variations, or minor imperfections should not be considered defects, but rather authentic marks of artisanal craftsmanship.
Unique Style & Color
Strong
Glaze finish
Stackable
Strong
Oven
safe
Microwave
safe
Dishwasher
safe
Freezer
safe
Vitrifyed & Stain Resistant
Chip
resistant
Heat & Chill
retention
Thermal Shock
resistant
Handcrafted in Portugal
Technical specifications
Our product - Stoneware
Not all stoneware is created in the same way. In fact, there is no universal standard definition of stoneware, and the term is often misused to describe other ceramic materials. What makes our stoneware truly exceptional lies in the following production processes:
BODY - Prepared in a dedicated refinery using state-of-the-art equipment and strict quality control procedures.
NATURAL CLAYS - Finely milled clays sourced from Portugal; Kaolin – also used in fine porcelain production, gives the body its whiteness, Feldspar – containing silicates, represents approximately 30% of the composition and enhances strength by bonding at high temperatures, Silica – a glass-like component that helps bind the other elements into a single, cohesive body.
FIRING (KILN PROCESS) - The pieces are kiln-fired for 11 hours at 1180°C, resulting in a fully vitrified body with a water absorption rate of less than 0.3% (three-tenths of one percent).
GLAZE - The glaze is fired simultaneously with the body, permanently fusing the two together. This process creates:
- A distinctive finish comparable to fine porcelain
- High scratch resistance
- Exceptional ease of cleaning
- Outstanding durability under daily professional use, including exposure to abrasive cleaning agents and knife contact, without surface damage
- Hand-applied decoration placed prior to glazing, ensuring permanent protection — it will never fade or discolor
THERMAL SHOCK RESISTANCE - Thanks to its refined formula and firing temperature, COSTA NOVA stoneware is comparable to fine porcelain in refinement, yet stronger and uniquely capable of withstanding a wide range of temperature variations.
COSTA NOVA is renowned for creating distinctive finishes - from the purest white to striking reactive glazes.
- Guaranteed to withstand temperatures ranging from –20°C to 260°C.
- Stoneware retains heat, helping food stay warm at the table.
- Thermal shock may occur if a hot item is placed on a cold surface, or vice versa.
- Always allow products to reach room temperature before placing them in a preheated oven, microwave, or freezer.
Reactive glaze
When the glaze on stoneware is described as “reactive,” it means that the glaze contains minerals and compounds that chemically react during the kiln-firing process, creating unique variations in color, speckling, and patterns on each individual piece.
Key characteristics of reactive glazes:
Example:
When a catalog states “reactive glaze,” it means the glaze is intentionally designed to produce beautiful, organic, and unpredictable patterns - making each plate or bowl unique and giving it a handcrafted appearance.
Costa Nova incorporates reactive glazes in many of its collections (such as Brisa, Cristal, Marrakesh, Madeira, and others). The process follows the same principle:
- The glaze is composed of mineral-rich compounds that chemically react during kiln firing.
- This reaction creates natural variations - shifts in tone, speckling, and color transitions - ensuring that no two pieces are identical.
- Costa Nova embraces this process as part of its artisanal identity, where these variations are intentional and highly valued.
- The finish is both durable (as it forms part of the glaze itself) and visually rich, enhancing the presentation of food.
Costa Nova consistently highlights this feature as a distinct advantage, emphasizing that the variations are purposeful and reflect the handcrafted nature of their tableware.
Our love for life, family, friends, and good food has inspired us to create fine stoneware collections that combine quality and design with the best in ceramic craftsmanship. We produce innovative and sustainable stoneware, made from the best natural resources in Portugal.
As a chef or restauranteur, you take pride in crafting unique dishes that reflect your personality and style. The presentation of your culinary creations says as much about you as the food itself.
At COSTA NOVA, we understand this and take pride in curating tabletop collections that are as unique as they are beautiful and functional. Our collections are designed for restaurants that appreciate innovative
tabletop solutions. Our European handcrafted stoneware products combine enticing design, functionality, and durability to make COSTA NOVA a unique brand in the hospitality industry.
Nowadays, carrying Portugal's name and heritage all over the world COSTA NOVA is present across the 5 continents, in prestigious hotels and renowned restaurants.
Key Facts
- 25 years in business
- 4 production facilities | 105,000 m² of total area
- 2 modern logistics centers
- In-house Research & Development department
- Present in more than 60 markets worldwide
Core Equipment
- Clay pressing machines
- High-pressure casting machines
- Mould casting machines
- Automated shaping lines
- Automatic spray dryers
- Tunnel kilns for firing
A sustainable choice
Your Sustainable Choice, Our Commitment to the Future
At COSTA NOVA, we create environmentally conscious, high-quality collections for the hospitality industry. Our stoneware products are ethically manufactured in Portugal, in modern facilities designed with environmental preservation in mind.
In addition, we offer carefully curated collections of cutlery, glassware, table linens, and accessories made from natural or recycled materials such as cork, wood, and leather — all produced in Europe using the finest resources.
Our choice of materials reflects both our aesthetic direction and our commitment to unique, elegant alternatives for the dining table, always with deep respect for the natural world around us. By choosing the COSTA NOVA brand, hotels and restaurants worldwide become part of our mission to protect the environment.
Sustainable Ceramics | A Sustainable Industry
“One of the key decisions chefs, hotels, and restaurants can make is to choose suppliers who are truly committed to environmental protection.” - Miguel Casal, Founder & CEO of COSTA NOVA
At COSTA NOVA, we are dedicated to creating more sustainable ceramics. Our products are eco-friendly, reusable, and recyclable. They are made from non-toxic, lead-free materials.
We manufacture in Portugal using the best local natural resources, minimizing our environmental footprint. Our single-firing production method saves energy and reduces atmospheric emissions. We conserve water by carefully treating and reusing it in internal cleaning processes or returning it to production. Additionally, excess heat generated from kilns is repurposed to power other machinery.
Our original formula creates a unique ceramic body with a strong bond between the clay and the glazed surface, making our products exceptionally durable — resistant to thermal and mechanical shock. This means COSTA NOVA ceramics are highly resistant to damage and capable of withstanding high temperatures.
It also means they have a longer lifespan compared to more fragile ceramic products, reducing the need for frequent replacement and contributing to lower resource consumption overall.
If you’d like, I can now condense this into a shorter “Sustainability Highlights” section suitable for product pages or a sustainability landing page for Amara Casa.
A sustainable choice
COSTA NOVA applies a multi-layered approach to sustainability, encompassing various aspects of environmental and social responsibility, such as:
Eco design
Our designers play a key role in promoting sustainability in the production of stoneware ceramics.
We reduce the environmental impact of our products by carefully considering factors such as form, ergonomics, aesthetics, quality, production costs, distribution, usability, and the overall product life cycle.
As a result, all our stoneware products are manufactured efficiently, with optimized use of resources (clay, glazes, energy, and water) to minimize waste throughout the production process. They are guaranteed to be environmentally friendly, reusable, and recyclable.
Ethical business
COSTA NOVA is committed to high ethical standards in business, including transparency, fair treatment of employees, and full compliance with laws and regulations.
Some of our core principles regarding employees and the community include:
- Building a positive working environment based on trust, ethics, and respect for human rights. We continuously invest in employee training and ensure safe working conditions.
- Promoting diversity, gender equality, and non-discrimination within our workforce. We employ over 1,000 people from 14 nationalities across four factories, with women representing 70% of our staff.
- Actively collaborating with local institutions and contributing to social development initiatives.
- Donating products each year to nearly 100 associations to support fundraising efforts and promoting internal solidarity campaigns.
Packaging
Everything we use to package our products is recycled and recyclable. Our packaging is 100% plastic-free and printed with non-toxic inks.
As part of our ongoing search for innovative and sustainable alternatives to plastic fillers, we developed a new by-product called Ecocard. Ecocard is made from shredded internal cardboard waste and is used as protective filler inside our boxes.
In addition, all our boxes are FSC-certified (made from 75% recycled cardboard), sealed with recycled paper tape, and designed to be reused and fully recyclable.
Energy efficiency
COSTA NOVA has committed to supplying its global infrastructure with 100% renewable energy and has made significant investments in renewable energy projects.
We operate 1,180 kW of solar panels to harness the power of the sun. During daylight hours, our newest factory can operate entirely on self-generated solar energy, while our remaining three factories are powered by a combination of solar energy and other renewable green energy sources.
Our single-firing production process reduces energy consumption and atmospheric emissions (using 50–70% less energy compared to standard double-firing systems). Additionally, we recover heat from our kilns to improve the efficiency of other equipment and operate within a closed-loop system, making our kilns 15% more efficient than the most efficient kilns currently available on the market.
Waste management
The waste generated in our production processes is carefully managed. 99% of our waste is directed to recycling processes, where it becomes a by-product used in other industries.
Excess clay from production is recycled within our facilities and transformed into entirely new tableware, reducing transportation-related emissions. We have also developed Ecogres, a new raw material created by collecting, recycling, and reusing clay and glazes from our own production processes, as well as materials sourced from neighboring industries.
Water treatment
In addition to reducing overall consumption, 100% of the water we use is carefully treated and reused for internal cleaning processes or returned to the production cycle.
All four of our factories are equipped with industrial wastewater treatment facilities.
Ecogres, recycled stoneware
From the earth, for the Earth
Ecogres® is a registered trademark of Grestel. Products under this label are guaranteed to be made of non-hazardous recycled materials, derived from ceramic surplus and other additives. A new raw material, completely eco-friendly.
At COSTA NOVA we are committed to making stoneware more sustainable. All our collections are thoughtfully produced with respect for Nature - reusable and recyclable. Our Ecogres collections go even further ahead, telling a unique story of how tableware can be made of recycled materials, while remaining beautiful and functional at the same time.
By choosing our Ecogres collections, you’re taking part in our commitment to protect the environment.
The process - collect and recycle
COSTA NOVA sees its products and operations as part of a long-life cycle and is committed to taking better care of the community and the world. In this commitment to sustainability, a new raw material was developed, by collecting, recycling, and reusing clays and glazes from our operations and other materials.
The result is Ecogres, a reinvented clay, made of recycled materials and completely eco-friendly.
How is Ecogres made
The Ecogres production process begins by collecting clay waste from our factory and combining it with other materials to stabilize the final composition. The recycled clay represents approximately 25% of all clay purchased from external suppliers. Finally, Ecogres consists of 90% recycled materials and other substances. The process of converting these surpluses into Ecogres® involves a set of sequential steps. The whole process takes place within the same factory, also contributing to the reduction of our carbon footprint.
All Ecogres® products are guaranteed to be food-safe, complying with International Standards. In addition, Ecogres® is in line with the European directives 2006/12/CE and 2008/98/CE, oriented toward transforming the EU into a «recycling society».
Benefits for the environment
This trademark is a result of years of internal investigation, in collaboration with a local university (Universidade de Aveiro), and as an upgraded (recycled) raw material, it presents several advantages to the environment:
- Natural Resources Preservation - by the reduction in the extraction volume of natural raw materials;
- Energy Efficiency – reduced ecological footprint;
- Health and Safety – reduction of waste otherwise disposed of in a landfill.