A Scottish firm is on the verge of worldwide recognition for remodeling building waste into sustainable bricks.
Kenoteq, primarily based in East Lothian, has developed the Ok-BRIQ, a revolutionary kind of brick made out of almost 100% recycled supplies that performs identical to conventional clay bricks.
The bricks produce round 95% much less carbon emissions, providing a sensible resolution to one of many building trade’s largest environmental challenges.
Now, the corporate has been nominated for the £1 million Earthshot Prize 2025, placing it among the many world’s most promising eco-innovators.
World recognition for a Scottish innovator
Kenoteq’s Earthshot Prize 2025 nomination comes with backing from international engineering consultancy Arup and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
“Kenoteq is driving actual environmental impression by turning building waste into one of many world’s most sustainable constructing supplies,” says Patrick Woodcock, undertaking supervisor on the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The winners, every receiving £1 million, will likely be introduced on the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro on 5 November.
Ok-BRIQ: The brick that might remodel building
The Ok-BRIQ is made out of almost 100% recycled building waste and is licensed by the British Board of Agrément.
“Not like conventional clay bricks, our Ok-BRIQs cut back carbon emissions by 95% whereas performing precisely the identical,” stated Sam Chapman, co-founder of Kenoteq.
For the standard UK two-bedroom home utilizing 12,000 bricks, switching to Ok-BRIQs would scale back emissions from 5.46 tonnes to simply 0.2 tonnes of CO₂ the equal of taking a petrol-powered automotive off the highway for a yr.
Scaling a round financial system resolution
Kenoteq’s East Lothian facility presently produces two million bricks per yr, with plans to double output as demand grows.
Early tasks throughout the UK and Europe – together with Scotland’s Nationwide Retrofit Centre and Germany’s sustainability-focused hypermarkets – have showcased Ok-BRIQ’s capabilities.
“Being nominated for the Earthshot Prize is improbable recognition for our workforce’s work,” says Chapman. “It proves that the development trade can construct higher whereas constructing greener.”
With twin worldwide certification already secured and European certification underway, Kenoteq is poised to take its round financial system resolution international.
What we learn about different nominees
As of now, the total record of Earthshot Prize 2025 nominees has not been publicly disclosed.
The Royal Academy of Engineering has highlighted a number of Earthshot Prize 2025 nominees, together with Kenoteq for its recycled Ok-BRIQ bricks, Crover and Dr. Lorenzo Conti for a grain-monitoring robotic that reduces meals waste, and Kybele’s Backyard for sustainable algae-based options for agrifood and cosmetics.
The 5 winners will likely be revealed on the awards ceremony on the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro.
