Brick by brick, the UK construction sector is moving towards its net zero targets

Michelmersh is a Business Reporter client.

Clay bricks have been used for 9,000 years. The oldest known remains, found near the ancient city of Jericho and dating from just a millennium and a half after the end of the last ice age, are remarkably similar to modern bricks: made of loamy clay and formed into rectangular blocks. stackable. .

It is a timeless design. The fact that today's bricks have barely changed from those of yesteryear is testament to their enduring appeal: they are aesthetically pleasing, store heat well, and are durable. The fact that archaeologists were able to uncover remains from so long ago demonstrates how durable these compacted clay cuboids are.

However, in the conversation about climate-friendly building materials, bricks tend to be overlooked in favor of new innovations. This is disconcerting. While many materials lose their integrity over time, bricks last for centuries. They can be reused and recycled many times.

Additionally, unlike other building materials, clay is a natural product with very low operational or maintenance carbon production over its entire life.

And if the clay can be sourced close to where the bricks are made, emissions from production will be even lower.

Using British materials and labor

Michelmersh produces more than 120 million clay bricks and pavers every year. More than 85 percent of all its raw materials come from within 2.5 kilometers of its factories, including 100 percent of its clay. Although it delivers nationally, the majority of its UK products are supplied locally; In fact, most of their UK products travel on average 60 miles from factory to site.

The company's location in West Sussex is appropriate: archaeological excavations there several decades ago uncovered a treasure trove of Roman pottery, meaning Michelmersh continues a long-standing tradition of using nearby natural resources to create sustainable, long-lasting building materials.

The use of British materials and their local employment has been fundamental to the company's sustainable business model since it began operations under the name Michelmersh Group in 1997. So has its advocacy that building designers, architects and construction companies design and build our architectural landscape so that it lasts. more extensive.

“True sustainability is understanding the full, lasting impact of our design choices and reducing the carbon footprint over the entire life of the building, from cradle to grave,” says Sarah Le Gresley, chief innovation officer at Michelmersh.

“Durable products with great longevity, such as clay bricks, will extend the expected lifespan of a building, resulting in a lower carbon footprint for each year of use. Clay bricks can be reused and recycled, thus further extending the life of the product and benefiting multiple generations.

“That's why we encourage architects and home builders to think more.”

Another key feature is its innovation in climate-friendly manufacturing processes. HyBrick, a UK government-funded research project carried out by Michelmersh in 2022, revealed for the first time at an industrial site the remarkable carbon-saving qualities of firing hydrogen-powered bricks.

During the three combustion tests, it recorded an 80 to 84 percent reduction in carbon emissions from the gas compared to natural gas. It was a world first: never before had a firing process been powered solely by green hydrogen in a brick manufacturing plant.

For ceramics to decarbonize significantly, more government support is needed

HyBrick is part of the company's long-term ambition and commitment to reducing emissions. It has already achieved a 20.1 percent reduction in its carbon emissions intensity since 2016, through several transformations in its daily operations: investing in renewable energy and rainwater harvesting, for example, and reducing the use of single-use plastics; In fact, it was the first UK brick company to commit to eliminating non-essential single-use plastics and is currently trialling organic alternatives.

It is also the first UK brick manufacturer to introduce building information modeling (BIM) files. This provides all stakeholders in a construction project, including the architect, contractor, facilities manager or owner, with key information about the three-dimensional physical characteristics and technical data of a facility and its products. This reduces the potential for construction waste and improves resource efficiency.

Michelmersh has also launched sustainablebricks.com, whose objective is to show the numerous benefits of clay brick to prescribers, construction professionals, homeowners and home builders. This platform ensures that architectural professionals are alert to the evolution and investment the industry is making towards innovative improvements related to sustainability, while also showcasing the sustainable benefits of clay brick.

It also hopes to educate and inform SMEs among their peers within the construction industry on the numerous carbon calculation resources available to help the sector collectively and collaboratively achieve its Net Zero goals. Through the products and initiatives displayed on the website, it aims to inspire and revolutionize the way sustainable building practices can be adopted for future generations.

However, although HyBrick has received vital support from the UK government, there is still much more to do. Around 17,500 people work in the ceramics industry in the UK, producing materials that play a vital role in maintaining our way of life.

“Ceramics fulfill many essential, often surprising, functions across the economy,” continues Sarah Le Gresley. “Ceramic manufacturers have continually invested in improving processes and technologies – more than £750 million in the last 10 years alone. But 75 percent of companies in the sector are small and medium-sized businesses that may struggle to afford to rebuild or retrofit sites with new and emerging technologies or fuels expected in the coming decades.

“Further decarbonization will be challenging and complex, with various transition needs requiring collaboration and support from government and other parties.

“Ceramics UK, the national trade association, has just published an updated decarbonisation roadmap setting out the industry’s future ambitions and it is crucial that we continue the conversation about how these can be achieved to ensure the ceramics industry is retained in the UK. United, rather than importing. goods with potentially higher carbon content from countries with lower climate aspirations or obligations for producers.”

Michelmersh has provided an exemplary route to decarbonisation, demonstrating how investment and commitment, from the top and the bottom, can drive innovation and advance the industry towards the country's Net Zero goals.

Click here for more information from Britain's brick specialists.