(Archive) Welcome to the New Stone Age

The amount of waste we are generating is growing vast, while world is running out of raw materials

Over 40% of the total waste in the Netherlands comes from construction, demolition or industry. There is no good solution for much of this material. At the same time, raw materials are extracted more than ever: in the Netherlands 90 million tons of sand, 5 million tons of gravel and 4 million tons of clay are being extracted every year. Worldwide, an estimated 50 billion tons of these aggregates are extracted.

Commonly used raw materials such as sand and gravel are becoming increasingly scarce, as they are extracted at a rate much greater than their natural renewal. Excavation also has a negative impact on organisms, habitats and ecosystems.

The production of materials for the construction sector accounts for 11 percent of global CO2 emissions. And these trends are continuing at a rapid pace. Population growth is an important driver. Worldwide, the equivalent of Paris is added every five days in floor space.

A new generation building materials counteracts these trends

To reverse these trends, StoneCycling has an ambitious mission: to develop beautiful building materials made from 100% waste with a positive CO2 impact on the planet. If we want waste to become the raw material of the future, we must be able to make aesthetic, as well as functional products.

Bricks made from waste, tiles made with the help of bacteria and concrete pavers without cement

This exhibition takes the visitor along the story of the WasteBasedBrick®, a facing brick made from 60% waste and the BioBasedTile®, a new tile product made with the help of bacteria. The BioBasedTile® is based on Biomason® technology. They are inspired by the way nature makes cement, like coral. This technology has the potential to be an alternative to the polluting traditional cement industry.

StoneCycling also looks to the future and shows the latest developments in collaboration with partners. Such as a ceramic wall tile made of 100% waste, a re- mountable facade and a cement-free concrete clinker. Projects that have been realized in recent years in Amsterdam, London and New York are also shown.

Attend Our Brick Talks!

Every weekday you can listen to an inspiring keynote by StoneCycling. We will present our solutions to the growing global waste pile, the scarcity of raw materials and the huge carbon footprint of the built environment.

Changing the way we use building materials is a huge task. That is why each day of Dutch Design Week, team members and partners of StoneCycling will touch upon different aspects of this journey.

We will show you our take on creating a new type of building material, such as the WasteBasedBrick® and the BioBasedTile®.

Program Schedule

Monday 24th | 2pm – 2:45pm “Waste is King” – Tom van Soest“
Tuesday 25th | 2pm – 2:45pm | The Value of the Chain” – Thomas Zeegers
Wednesday 26th | 2pm – 2:45pm | “How to Include Sustainable Materials in a Tender” – Esther Kransen
Thursday 27th | 2pm – 2:45pm | “The Importance of Continuous Innovation’’ – Tom van Soest
Friday 28th | 2pm – 2:45pm | “Revolutionizing Cement with Biotechnology” – Jan Vandesande, Biomason (StoneCycling Partner)

Please note: Our location has capacity for 25 people. Please show up on time to guarantee your entry.