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Kenoteq, inventor of a brick made from more than 90% construction waste material, has won the public vote in this year’s 2022 Dezeen Sustainability Award.
Kenoteq's K-Briq won the public vote in the Sustainable Design of the year category with 35 percent of votes. The awards attracted over 5,400 entries from 90 countries and Kenoteq was up against studios and companies located across 15 different countries including Germany, Japan, and Rwanda.
One of the most significant architecture and design awards in the world, the awards were judged by experts drawn from across the sustainability sector. Kenoteq's design is made from construction waste and is coloured using recycled pigments.
Kenoteq was set up by co-founders Professor Gabriela Medero and Dr Sam Chapman in 2019 after more than a decade of research into sustainable building materials and practices at Heriot-Watt University.
Professor Gabriela Medero, Associate Principal for Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University and co-founder of Kenoteq said: “This is a hugely exciting achievement and a great honour to receive so many public votes in this year’s Dezeen Award. Thank you all very much. Having the K-Briq recognised amongst international designs is a clear testament to Scotland as a nation of innovators as well as the country’s ongoing focus on circular economy approaches.
“The K-Briq has successfully driven ‘sustainability in construction’ into the public consciousness and we are now working in partnership with the construction, architectural and design industries to support their shared ambitions in the drive to net zero. We’ll shortly be rolling out production from our new facility just outside Edinburgh and we hope to scale up operations across the UK in future years.”
The K-Briq won the STEM Research Project of the Year at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards 2020. It is also currently shortlisted in the Scottish Environment Business Networks 2022 VIBES Awards in recognition of championing sustainability through the development of the K-Briq.
People can visit the Dezeen website and read all about Kenoteq’s win.
The K-Briq is currently undergoing final certification and will be in commercial production and ready to reduce carbon emissions in building and construction projects from late 2022. Find out more here.