The low-carbon K-Briq idea was conceived a decade ago and produces just one-tenth of the CO2 emissions of a traditional fired brick and can also be made in any colour

construction industry in terms of related taxes.”

Since the waste materials found at different construction or demolition sites will vary, the K-Briq can’t be manufactured on-site.

Instead, the source materials originate from collection points such as recycling centres. A strict recipe is then followed at Hamilton Waste & Recycling in Edinburgh, where the brick is produced.

The K-Briq looks like an ordinary building block, weighs the same, and behaves similarly to its clay cousin, but the main difference is that K-Briq is unfired, removing the need to generate temperatures of over 1,300 degrees Celsius in a specialised oven.

“The carbon footprint and energy demand of this alone is crazy. There is no heating involved with K-Briq,” Medero adds. “I started looking at how we might reuse construction materials, since so much waste was being produced.”

The path towards commercial applications hasn’t been so straightforward, however. In order to meet regulations for use in load-bearing situations and fire resistance, the K-Briq has had to pass numerous building standards.

But now, several projects are in the pipeline with one major one being temporarily postoned due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We’ve been performing durability tests for many years. We’ve simulated the most extreme circumstances by repeatedly boiling and freezing them, and created the harshest conditions over varying time periods,” Medero says.

In addition to saving energy in the manufacturing process by not using any heat, Kenoteq reduces carbon emissions by producing the bricks locally in Scotland, thus removing the need to import anything from anywhere else in Europe.

Should Kenoteq establish itself as an international company, then this current set-up would more than likely change, however, with the manufacturing technique potentially even licensed out.

Certainly, the binding agent that enables the broken-down bricks, plasterboard, concrete, gravel and sand to form a viable, new building block is the key USP of the product and remains a closely-guarded secret.

“Our patent solicitors have instructed me very carefully not to disclose any information about this, which is something I haven’t experienced before as an academic,” Medero says.

“If we can stop using raw materials and chemicals and instead use recycled waste from construction and demolition, then it’ll be a game changer.”

“We hope K-Briq will help support the sustainability ambitions of today’s construction industry and change it for the better hour.”