Millions of Recycled Bricks Set to Enter Production Following Industry Certification

Image Credit: Kenoteq

Kenoteq, a Scottish cleantech company, has reached a milestone for sustainable construction with the certification of its innovative K-BRIQ. Made from recycled construction and demolition waste, this revolutionary brick has received the coveted accreditation from the British Board of Agrément (BBA), the UK’s leading construction certification authority.

As one of the world’s most sustainable low-carbon bricks, the K-BRIQ is now recognised for its potential to transform various construction projects. From facades and feature walls to brick plinths, the K-BRIQ can be confidently specified for use in projects across the construction sector. Kenoteq is kicking off its commercial production with the capacity to produce up to two million bricks annually from its first facility in East Lothian. This number will scale up to four million as demand rises, with plans to establish regional production sites in the UK and internationally, ensuring low-carbon building products from local waste.

The K-BRIQ is made from almost 100% recycled materials, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Due to an innovative, energy-efficient production process, the unfired brick emits 95% less embodied carbon than traditional clay bricks. The lack of standard testing for non-traditional building materials meant the K-BRIQ underwent a rigorous and unprecedented testing process, with the brick earning the highest possible durability rating—an especially vital achievement for the UK market.

This milestone follows the K-BRIQ’s additional certification for use in the United States, awarded through the esteemed Dr J Technical Evaluation Report (TER). With international and European certifications underway, Kenoteq’s innovation is poised for global recognition, fielding inquiries from around the world.

The K-BRIQ tackles key environmental issues in the construction sector. Traditional construction materials are resource-intensive and heavily contribute to landfill waste. Furthermore, the UK is one of the largest consumers of high-carbon imported bricks, with around 2.5 billion bricks used annually. Of these, over 500 million are imported, with 50 million coming from outside the EU, which has a massive environmental cost. Additionally, construction, demolition, and excavation waste account for nearly 65% of all UK waste, with 50 to 60 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste generated annually.

Sam Chapman, co-founder and executive director of Kenoteq, said: 

“This certification marks the arrival of a truly transformative building material for the construction and interior design industries. Unlike approaches that simply treat the symptoms of construction’s environmental impact, the K-BRIQ addresses the root cause by directly tackling the waste crisis while delivering a product that performs exactly like traditional materials, including the clay brick.

“Securing BBA certification allows our product to be specified with confidence on commercial projects across the UK. We’ve already seen significant interest from leading property developers, architectural firms and public sector bodies committed to reducing the carbon footprint of their construction projects.

“The K-BRIQ is not just an environmentally superior alternative to traditional bricks, but a technically robust building material suitable for a wide range of construction applications. With our certification secured, we can now scale up production to meet market requirements while maintaining the exceptional quality and sustainability credentials that set us apart.

“The construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and safety. The BBA certification of the K-BRIQ demonstrates that these goals are not mutually exclusive – we can build better while building greener.”

Kenoteq’s solution? The K-BRIQ can be manufactured within 24 hours of receiving the processed waste at its ultra-low-energy factory, a groundbreaking feat in sustainable building. With over 100 tonnes of carbon savings already achieved in demonstration projects, the K-BRIQ produces 95% less embodied carbon than a traditional brick, positioning it as a revolutionary material in the push toward sustainable construction. Embodied carbon, responsible for over half of a building’s carbon footprint, is often overlooked. Still, its importance is rapidly gaining recognition as a key factor in assessing the life-cycle carbon impact of buildings.

The difference is stark when comparing traditional bricks' carbon emissions to the K-BRIQ. A standard two-bedroom house in the UK typically requires around 12,000 bricks, and using conventional clay bricks results in 5.46 tonnes of CO2e. By contrast, building with the K-BRIQ results in only 0.2 tonnes CO2e.

Katy Roberts, Sales and Marketing Director at the British Board of Agrément, said: “The BBA is proud to play its part in helping clients like Kenoteq bring innovative and sustainable new products into the market. In a sector where safety, performance, and trust are non-negotiable, third-party certification plays a crucial role in enabling innovation. 

“Independent certification provides a rigorous, evidence-based pathway for new products to gain market acceptance. It reassures stakeholders, supports regulatory compliance, and ultimately helps turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world construction solutions.”

Further solidifying its credentials, the Medero Dark Grey K-BRIQ variant has achieved an A-class fire rating, making it suitable for high-risk buildings. Available in 12 different colours, all produced using recycled pigments, the K-BRIQ offers architects and developers significant aesthetic flexibility without compromising environmental performance.

Thanks to its BBA certification, the K-BRIQ can now be used in a broad range of building applications, meeting insurance, warranty, mortgage, and third-party liability requirements that have previously hindered the adoption of innovative construction materials.

Several early adopter projects across the UK and Europe have already demonstrated the K-BRIQ's aesthetic and technical capabilities. Notable projects include walling installations at Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre at BE-ST (Built Environment Smarter Transformation), educational projects at Oaklands College in St Albans, a sustainability-focused hypermarket store in Germany owned by Kaufland (Europe’s largest retailer), and installations at the expanding Gail’s Bakery chain. These projects are a testament to the K-BRIQ’s ability to combine environmental sustainability with high-quality performance and design.