BC Materials Visit

During a recent visit to the port area of Brussels, we toured the production facilities of BC Materials, a progressive model for circular and carbon-neutral construction. Situated within a landscape of heavy industry – cement factories, breaker yards, and other intensive processes – the facility demonstrates an alternative, compact system in which waste construction aggregate and spoil are transformed into sustainable building materials.

In production during the visit was a batch of compressed earth blocks composed of clay, gravel, and sand. These blocks not only reuse waste material but remain unbaked, significantly lowering their embodied carbon compared to conventional fired bricks. The resulting waste brick is composed of approximately 65% recycled material and has just one-third of the embodied carbon of a typical clay brick over a 60-year life cycle.

The visit offered valuable insights into the practical application of circular economy principles in construction, aligning with Assorted Studio’s continued interest in material innovation and sustainable building practices.