Circular facade bricks as the foundation for a sustainable built environment

Building Without Waste

Market demand is growing for dry-stacking systems, in which facing bricks can be stacked without mortar or adhesive, easily dismantled, and reused indefinitely. MBI De Steenmeesters, for example, is responding to this trend with its GeoStylistix ReUsed facing bricks, which contain no less than 65% of recycled material. With this product, the concrete manufacturer offers the ultimate in sustainability, circular construction, and the reduction of construction waste.

MBI De Steenmeesters is a leading Dutch family-owned company specializing in the production of high-quality concrete and paving products. Its product range varies from garden tiles and decorative pavers to facade bricks for both residential and commercial applications. With multiple production sites in the Netherlands, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern production technologies.

Sustainability central

Sustainability is central to MBI De Steenmeesters’ business operations. The company continuously invests in environmentally friendly production methods, such as the reuse of raw materials and the reduction of CO2 emissions. In addition, MBI De Steenmeesters focuses on developing innovative solutions that contribute to a climate-resilient living environment. For example, the company offers products that help capture and drain rainwater, such as permeable paving. It also develops heat-resistant materials that help reduce heat stress in urban areas. In doing so, the company is actively addressing current challenges such as climate change, drought, and flooding.

Slim facing brick for expressive facades

A popular item in the MBI De Steenmeesters product line, for example, is the extra-long and slender GeoStylistix facing brick (595x95x40 mm), which combines the advantages of concrete with the eye-catching aesthetic qualities of natural stone. “The GeoStylistix facing brick consists of a strong concrete core with a 1-centimeter-thick top layer of natural aggregates, which create a beautiful color scheme,” explains Erik van Esch, Sales Manager at MBI De Steenmeesters. “The facade block is known for its sleek appearance, precise dimensions, and wide range of color options, which allow for the creation of modern and expressive facades.” 

Now also available as a ReUsed version

For those who wish to incorporate a low environmental impact (MKI value) into their projects, MBI De Steenmeesters has developed GeoStylistix ReUsed. “In the unique formulation of this ReUsed facing brick, at least 65% of the traditional raw materials in the core concrete is replaced by concrete aggregates or rubble recovered from waste streams,” says Van Esch. “These so-called ‘eco-aggregates’ come from the residual materials of various industrial waste streams. In this way, we make a significant contribution to the circular construction goals of an increasing number of clients. The production of GeoStylistix ReUsed requires virtually no new raw materials to be sourced or transported. Consequently, the production process for GeoStylistix ReUsed results in significantly lower CO2 emissions, which is highly beneficial for the environment.”

Sleek and detachable facade

“GeoStylistix facing bricks—including the ReUsed variant—are extremely dimensionally stable,” says Van Esch. “This allows them to be installed dry, with very thin joints or even without butt joints, placed directly against one another. This creates an extremely clean-lined facade.” It is also possible to stack the facade bricks dry. To this end, MBI De Steenmeesters has entered into a partnership with NoviBrick and Drystack. “By mechanically fastening the slim facing bricks with fiberglass composite anchor plates or stainless steel clips and cavity anchors, an extremely stable, durable, and fully demountable facade is created. Combined with the use of 65% recycled material, GeoStylistix ReUsed lays the foundation for a sustainable built environment.”