FROM EARTH TO VALUE

LIVING LAB EARTH BLOCKS (leemsteen)

What are earth blocks?

Earth blocks are circular building products that can make a major contribution to reducing the building sector's material footprint and CO2 emissions. Unlike conventional bricks, the material is not fired, which greatly reduces CO2 emissions during the production process. If no additives or stabilisers are added, the chemical composition is not changed during the production process and at the end of the life cycle, the material can be used again as a raw material or returned to nature in an unmodified form. When using excavated soil from construction sites as raw material for production, no mining of new raw materials is needed either.

Earth block producers in Europe

In Europe, various earth block producers are active across Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. As pioneers, earth blocks producers such as Cycle Terre, OSKAM, and Terrabloc contribute to the transition towards a more environmentally friendly construction sector and the upscaling of the application of earth block masonry in real-life construction projects.

In the living lab, we conduct research on the application of different clay bricks in European pilot projects. Additionally, we are in contact with the various European earth block manufacturers, of which a significant number are part of our advisory board. This allows them to provide feedback on the research results of the living lab.

Below is an overview of different producers in Europe.

Belgian earth blocks - BC materials and BrickZ

In Belgium, BC materials and BrickZ, project partner of the living lab, is the only earth block producer with a scaled-up production. Currently, BC Materials offers the Léém moulded block, a raw earth block without additives or stabilizers, as well as the Léém compressed earth block, an earth block stabilised with 3.85% cement.

Moulded block brown

Moulded block ocher

Moulded block cream 

Léém moulded block: plastic earth is moulded in a formwork and then demoulded (by machinery that is used to produce fired bricks). The blocks are subsequently dried in drying chambers using recuperation heat until 80 degrees Celcius. The Léém moulded blocks are produced in Oudenaarde in the factory of Vande Moortel. 

Compressed block 90

Compressed block 140

Compressed block 190

Léém compressed earth block: humid earth is compressed through mechanical force, hydraulic force or vibrocompacting force exerted by specific machinery. The blocks are subsequently cured and air dried at ambient temperatures. The Léém compressed earth blocks are produced at Claesen Beton in Lummen. 

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Project team

with support of

VLAIO is the Flemish government's point of contact for all entrepreneurs in Flanders. VLAIO stimulates and supports innovation and entrepreneurship and contributes to a favourable entrepreneurial climate. They do this in cooperation with numerous partners.

VLAIO is fully committed to circular entrepreneurship. That is why this VLAIO project received support and resources from the European Commission's NextGenerationEU fund.