3.13

Transforming Textile Waste into Bricks and Other Building Materials

In this final step on textile recycling we’ll take a closer look at some examples of how textiles can be transformed into bricks for building, insulation, or just an interior design feature.

While construction applications of recycled textiles are a growing area of research and pilot programs, its current share of the 92 million tonnes of global annual textile waste is extremely small – likely representing a very small fraction of 1 percent of the total generated waste stream today. It is one application within the small percentage of textiles that are downcycled.

FabBRICK: From Textile to Design

FabBRICK, founded by architect Clarisse Merlet, transforms textile waste into innovative building materials. The process involves shredding discarded fabrics, mixing them with a proprietary, eco-friendly glue, and mechanically compressing the mixture into bricks. These air-dried, lightweight bricks serve as thermal and acoustic insulators for partition walls, bespoke furniture, and interior design projects, actively diverting waste from landfills and the polluting construction industry.

In the video below FabBRICK founder Clarisse Merlet talks about and shows us how bricks are made out of textile waste, and what they can be used for.

In the longer video ‘Is Trash The Building Material of The Future?’ here more examples of how to turn waste into building materials are shown.

PUreTex: Creating Insulation from Recycled Textiles

PUreTex is an Irish research project that chemically recycles end-of-life polyester textiles. They convert the waste into high-purity polyurethane, which is then used to synthesize rigid foam insulation for buildings. This work provides a sustainable solution to textile waste and improves the energy efficiency of homes.

In the video below you get an animated summary of their work, the chemical techniques used to break down discarded polyester clothing and how the chemically recycled material becomes housing insulation.

Further reading, learning and references

FabBRICK https://www.fab-brick.com/en

Business Insider – Is Trash The Building Material of The Future? https://uppsala.instructuremedia.com/embed/4ca7e81a-ebb3-4c85-949a-f30d0e3b06ae

PUreTex https://puretex.ie/

Yee, N. (2023). Textile Waste: From Rags to Resources Used in Construction. California State University https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/projects/n009w869z

© Daniel Mossberg, CEMUS, Uppsala University and Sonali Phadke, studio Alternatives and Stephanie Foote