As the building industry faces growing pressure to reduce embodied carbon, Eco Outdoor, a leading natural stone supplier for building projects across Australia, New Zealand and the United States, announces the launch of a high-performing, cost-effective stone construction brick product line that reduces carbon emissions by more than 50% in the excavation and production of the material.

As much as 40% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions come from the built environment, a quarter of which is the result of embodied carbon from the actual construction process. While materials like clay bricks and concrete prove to be durable, beautiful and scalable, their reliance on high-temperature manufacturing processes makes them carbon-intensive.

“Building with stone is not a new idea – in fact, it’s the original forever material used for centuries to build significant structures like monuments and cathedrals that are still standing today,” said Ben Kerr, founder and CEO at Eco Outdoor. “It is possible to innovate products that deliver better outcomes while honouring the design character of raw materials, crafting them into beautiful surfaces that celebrate the beauty of nature and inspire architects and designers to create enduring spaces.”

Circularity is key to extracting raw materials that can be expressed in multiple forms and minimising waste. It requires collaboration with both stone and design partners and understanding the issues and impacts across the supply chain.

Quarries globally are divided into sections with colour variations and perceived quality differences, which create a challenge. When they “clean the quarry”, they are excavating portions of the mountain that may not be as pure in colour or lacks uniform material. There is a cost to remove the stone even if it is not wanted by the market.

Eco Outdoor, on the other hand, takes those materials and cuts the blocks into bricks at the source to create a product that doesn’t waste any raw material.

Every part of the block can be used – from large format tiles and bricks to offcuts – and when nothing is left that is usable for building, it can be crushed and used as material for roads or patios. If the aggregate has enough calcium, it can also be put into the ocean where it sequesters significant carbon. Stone will never fully deplete – it’s the original sustainable material.

Another important benefit is that stone bricks do not require any firing, which relies on fossil fuels. Stone is also a denser material that is more thermally efficient. This is the first example of offering this alternative material on a global scale as a commercial business.

“Stone bricks brought a richness, depth, and tactility that clay simply couldn’t achieve,” said Lise Taylor, creative director at Designists in Sydney. “The inherent imperfections and uneven colouration of each brick added to the charm of the material, elevating its artisanal quality and giving the building warmth, depth, and a sense of authenticity that improves with time.”

Lowering carbon is critical but it shouldn’t be assessed in isolation. A sustainable approach considers service life, replacement cycles and real-world performance, particularly in harsh fire-prone environments where durability has a whole-of-life impact.

“Build more, build better and build for life,” said Kerr. “Stone offers great technical quality with a colour palette that’s in line with what the market’s demanding. It’s very clean, contemporary and aesthetically pleasing.”

Eco Outdoor’s stone bricks are available for the construction of residential and commercial projects.

Architecture & Design Team

Eco Outdoor

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