Skip to main content

Sustainable bricks from KENOTEQ

UK firm KENOTEQ is offering a sustainable construction product in the shape of an unfired brick that is made from waste materials. Construction and demolition waste make up around 90% of the materials used in the firm’s novel K-Briq.
August 19, 2021 Read time: 1 min
A novel brick is now offered that is made from waste materials

The company is a clean-tech spin-out from Heriot-Watt University and is looking to commercialise production of its brick. The aim is to supply more than two million bricks/year.

The K-Briq is made from over 90% recycled demolition and construction waste materials. It has just 10% of the CO2 emissions of a traditional fired brick for its production and requires less than 10% of the energy in its manufacture.

The firm says that the production of this type of brick reduces the need to send waste materials from construction and demolition to landfill. In addition, production also slashes energy use, both in manufacturing and also in use as it has double the insulation properties of existing bricks and blocks. By using recycled pigments, it can be made in a range of colours providing flexibility to architects and design planners.

The K-Briq was conceived by Professor Gabriela Medero from Heriot-Watt University following more than a decade of research and development into creating innovative, low-carbon products from recycled construction waste. Professor Medero is co-founder and technical director of KENOTEQ, which launched in January 2020.

Related Content

  • Cifa focuses on new technology for 2014
    March 11, 2014
    In 2014 Zoomlion-owned Cifa plans to manufacture a further 15 of its innovative hybrid Energya 8 and 9 plug-in truck mixer prototypes to add to its two existing models. The globally renowned concrete equipment sector firm also aims to sell the first of these new plug-in truck mixer models next year. Among the new machines and equipment resulting from a €2 million-a-year R&D investment in Cifa and Zoomlion products over the last five years, the Energya 8 and 9 models, the latter of which was launched at bau
  • Cifa focuses on new technology for 2014
    March 11, 2014
    In 2014 Zoomlion-owned Cifa plans to manufacture a further 15 of its innovative hybrid Energya 8 and 9 plug-in truck mixer prototypes to add to its two existing models. The globally renowned concrete equipment sector firm also aims to sell the first of these new plug-in truck mixer models next year. Among the new machines and equipment resulting from a €2 million-a-year R&D investment in Cifa and Zoomlion products over the last five years, the Energya 8 and 9 models, the latter of which was launched at bau
  • An array of barrier innovations is coming to market
    January 4, 2013
    Various developments are affecting the market for highway barriers - Mike Woof writes The global market for highway barrier products continues to see the introduction of new products and new standards. Some standards for barriers are also eagerly awaited and clarification is still required of the regulations surrounding motorcycle-safe barrier types. In recognition of the issues concerning bad weather on Europe’s roads in winter periods, a new amendment has been made to the EN1317 standard for safety barrie
  • Geosynthetics give extra strength to soil reinforcement
    March 14, 2012
    Using geosynthetics for soil reinforcement is highly effective but requires a high quality and trusted geogrid. When it comes to deciding which geogrid is best for a specific project, a number of product parameters must be taken into account. In the design of steep slopes, the most important parameter is the available long term design strength (Pdes). Recently, Colbond has significantly increased this factor for its high performance Enkagrid product, recognised with a newly updated BBA (British Board of Ag