Robert Flello of the Brick Development Association (BDA) explores how locally sourced clay bricks offer a lower-carbon, resilient solution for sustainable construction, blending heritage with environmental responsibility in modern building.
From residential to commercial buildings, the UK’s built environment is responsible for 25% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. A dramatic reduction in this figure is therefore essential to meeting the deadline for net zero. But the onus on CO2 reduction doesn’t rest solely on innovating improved sustainable building practices and products but rather with a material that’s been part of Britain’s heritage for centuries, clay brick.
Clay brick is a superb example of a homegrown product that brings sustainability and resilience to the housing industry. Of the 2.5 billion clay bricks deployed in the UK’s built environment, around 85% were manufactured in the UK. This makes clay brick one of the most widely used and locally sourced building materials. By selecting a close-to-home building solution such as clay brick, which for centuries has been a trusted, reliable material capable of fulfilling styles and trends throughout the ages, specifiers can ensure a more cost-effective and environmentally-responsible build.
Locally sourced
Clay brick is produced in ample quantities in the UK with natural elements including raw clay and water. This local sourcing dispenses with significant transportation costs and high carbon emissions that imported materials carry, many of which may have travelled thousands of miles before being put to use on UK building sites. In addition to reducing its environmental impact, shorter supply chains bring resilience, cost effectiveness and reliability, all of which ensures building projects remain on track.
Another distinct advantage of local sourced clay bricks is its ability to reflect the unique character of the area where it is produced. Clay brick manufacturers generally use clay from nearby quarries with the resulting bricks naturally matching the tones and textures of the local geology. This not only reduces the need for artificial additives or surface treatments, but also ensures that new buildings complement their surroundings, both visually and historically. In this way, the local sourcing supports not only environmental goals but also helps to preserve the identity of communities while building for the future.
Built to last
The benefits of clay brick go beyond their local production and use, with their value increasing over time. This is not only in terms of aesthetics and buildability but in environmental performance as well.
While modern materials lose their integrity over time, clay bricks have demonstrated durability spanning millennia. Archaeological evidence has revealed fired bricks still intact after more than 6,000 years, eclipsing conventional building materials’ lifespans on a huge scale. This extensive longevity translates directly into superior environmental performance, with each brick’s carbon footprint distributed across centuries rather than decades in well maintained buildings.
This whole-life approach to sustainability will result in a low carbon footprint for every year of use. Rather than simply using materials with lower upfront carbon, a whole life approach considers environmental impact across a product’s entire lifecycle, from production to use, maintenance and recycling.
A broader definition of sustainability
True sustainability demands consideration of a building material’s complete environmental impact – from extraction through manufacturing, construction, use, and end of life. Clay brick excels at each stage: locally sourced raw materials minimise transport emissions as we have referenced, natural composition ensures low operational carbon, minimal maintenance requirements reduce lifetime impact, and its ability to be reused and recycled supports circular economy principles.
Next generation brickmaking
While the UK brick industry is rooted in tradition, it continues to pioneer revolutionary manufacturing processes to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions during manufacturing. Michelmersh’s HyBrick project achieved a world first in 2022, demonstrating an 80-84% reduction in carbon emissions through hydrogen-fired production. Meanwhile, Atlas Ibstock’s new pathfinder factory is a state-of-the-art facility producing durable, lower carbon and CarbonNeutral certified bricks, approximately 50% less embodied carbon than before.
As the construction industry charts a course towards net zero, clay brick emerges not merely as a traditional choice. It offers a rare combination of local sourcing, low emissions in transport, visual compatibility with an area’s architectural heritage and extraordinary longevity. In an industry searching for low-carbon solutions that don’t compromise on reliability or design, locally sourced clay brick stands out as both a modern and time-honoured solution.
Robert Flello is CEO of the Brick Development Association (BDA)
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