Summary

Stone cycling is creating new building materials from one of the biggest waste streams: debris from construction sites. Construction waste is varied and bulky and is often difficult to find upcycling uses for. Stone cycling performs waste processing by collecting waste debris from construction sites and sorting them into various types and materials. The material is then ground in a find powder to an optimal grain size and then used to create new brick materials that can be used in new construction projects. The production process entails at least 60% upcycled waste and is ready to be molded and baked into various brick-like shapes. More recently, the company is also experimenting with biomimicry processed to create bio-based cement-like materials. Unlike cement production that causes carbon emissions, the bio-based cement is made up of carbon and calcium but without producing carbon emissions on the same scale. The process was inspired by nature’s process in creating coral. The bio-based tile comprises the cement material and other waste materials and is then shaped and cured before being tested for commercial use. (Source) After use the bricks can be 100% recycled back into new bricks.

Story

Founder Tom van Soest conceived the concept at the Design Academy in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, where he focused on upcycling waste he found in vacant buildings awaiting demolition. He ground, crushed and mixed this rubble in a homemade industrial blender and, after much trial and error, found a way to create new materials that were both resilient and appealing. On graduation, he established StoneCycling with long-time friend Ward Massa. (Source)

Pic Credit: Design/Milk