Kenoteq, a Heriot-Watt University spin-out, is now producing the K-Briq commercially: a brick made from over 90% recycled construction and demolition waste, manufactured without firing.
Avoiding the kiln is the headline carbon story. Conventional fired clay bricks are responsible for a significant slice of embodied carbon in masonry construction; Kenoteq's process uses a fraction of the energy and turns waste streams that would otherwise be landfilled into the primary feedstock.
Why this matters for commercial developers
Embodied carbon is increasingly under scrutiny in planning, lending, and corporate ESG reporting. Materials like the K-Briq give designers a credible route to lower whole-life carbon without redesigning the building system.
For occupiers and landlords with net-zero commitments, specifying low-carbon masonry on refurbishment, extension and infill projects is one of the more accessible early wins.
How we help
We advise clients on embodied-carbon strategy alongside operational energy — so material choices, MEES upgrades and on-site generation work together rather than in isolation.
Source: BusinessGreen — 30 June 2025