This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano
The first of these to be put on the market was WasteBasedBricks, created starting from a grinding machine patented by the company that pulverises waste such as glass, bricks, concrete, and even entire washbasins. Subsequently, the powder obtained is used to manufacture bricks that contain between 60% and 100% waste materials.
A new material, similar to stone, is created by firing a specific mixture at high temperature. Since the mix of waste materials differs each time, the resulting brick’s structure depends on the detritus source and the production process. The size of the bricks is variable, and the final product can be used both for interior and exterior applications.
In addition to WasteBasedBricks, Front manufactures CornWall, a sustainable alternative for interior wall coverings created primarily from corn waste; Pretty Plastic Panels, an innovative façade cladding solution made from 100% recycled PVC waste; and BioBasedTiles, the first biobased tile to be grown with the help of bacteria.
Front is a certified B Corp that was envisioned at the Eindhoven Design Academy, where then-student Tom van Soest was focused on upcycling the waste found in vacant buildings before demolition, to highlight the beauty of discarded materials. After upcycling 3,000 tonnes of waste, Front recently launched Paper Waste Panels for interior wall covering: for every 100 m² of panels, 722 kg of waste are upcycled.
Web site:
Name:
Front
Sector:
Construction
Pros:
Use of construction and demolition waste from building sites and corn, PVC, and cardboard waste
Features:
Development and manufacturing of eco-friendly building components from waste materials
Cover: Front