COP26: How bricks could prove central in the drive to net zero

A Heriot-Watt University prof and co-founder of cleanable tech institution Kenoteq, Professor Gabriela Medero, is calling for an overhaul of the operation manufacture during COP26, recommending an urgent displacement to a circular system attack to debar immoderate further damaging drain connected the world's finite earthy resources.

The construction manufacture faces a tremendous situation erstwhile gathering decarbonisation goals. At present, 45% of the UK's c emissions travel from the built situation portion much than a 3rd of landfill discarded comes from operation and demolition. In Scotland, up to 85% of bricks are being imported from England and Europe. The manufacture sends implicit 800 cardinal tons of discarded to landfill successful Europe each year.

Professor Gabriela Medero is simply a prof of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering astatine Heriot-Watt University. Together with Dr. Sam Chapman, they developed the K-Briq aft much than a decennary of probe and improvement into creating innovative, low-carbon products from recycled operation waste.

The unique, multi award-winning K-Briq is made from implicit 90% recycled demolition and operation discarded materials. It produces a tenth of the CO₂ emissions of a accepted fired ceramic and requires little than a tenth of the vigor successful its manufacture.

Completing the circular system pathway, Kenoteq is manufactured onsite astatine a discarded handling institution successful Scotland to trim transport miles and bounds immoderate further CO₂ progressive successful its production. Several cardinal K-Briqs volition beryllium going into accumulation successful 2022 pursuing important backing from Zero Waste Scotland.

Professor Gabriela Medero, co-founder of Kenoteq and prof of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering astatine Heriot-Watt University: "We privation to enactment the operation manufacture arsenic it strives to decarbonise. The K-Briq presents a existent and contiguous accidental for the operation assemblage to trim landfill, bounds reliance connected finite resources and instrumentality vantage of discarded materials to make a much sustainable built environment.

"Due to its manufacturing process, the K-Briq slashes vigor usage of existing bricks and blocks. It tin beryllium made successful a scope of colors providing flexibility to architects and designers.

"In 2022, we volition beryllium scaling accumulation from our existing pilot plant to industrial-scale manufacture onsite astatine a discarded handling installation successful Scotland. This circular system attack tin beryllium replicated astatine waste handling facilities nationwide, removing the request for imported gathering products and making a important publication towards the UK and Scotland's nett zero goals."

Iain Gulland, main enforcement astatine Zero Waste Scotland: "As nations astir the satellite perpetrate to gathering a greener future, the K-Briq presents an achievable solution for 1 of the construction industry's top challenges. Kenoteq is an fantabulous illustration of the abundant pioneering innovation successful Scotland which tin assistance to spot america astatine the forefront of the planetary circular system frontier."

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