Vandersanden has introduced Pirrouet, a revolutionary CO2-negative facing brick that sets a new benchmark in sustainable architecture. The brick uses a unique industrial application of carbonation technology, absorbing up to 60kg of CO2 per tonne during the curing process. Up to 80% of the raw materials used are sourced from steel industry residual flows, and the bricks will continue to absorb CO2 throughout their lifespan.
Pirrouet is being used in various projects, including the Groen Nobelhorst housing scheme in the Netherlands, which will use 320,000 Pirrouet facing bricks. This residential development is designed for sustainable and nature-inclusive living, featuring bio-based insulation and green roofs. According to the company, the production process alone will absorb as much as 42,000kg of CO2, equivalent to the amount that 60 trees could store in 28 years.
Contractor Jan Baillien, who worked on a project using Pirrouet, commented, “We were apprehensive at first, as it’s a completely new product. But when using it in the construction process, our initial concerns were unfounded, because it all went very smoothly.”
