Bricks have been a fundamental building material for centuries, shaping both ancient monuments and modern cities worldwide. The brick industry plays a crucial role in construction nationwide – with around 1,000 kilns producing nearly six billion bricks annually.
The sector brings in approximately US $37 million in investment, highlighting its economic significance. However, traditional brick manufacturing methods pose extreme environmental and health risks.
With emissions of dangerous pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), brick kilns have emerged as one of Nepal’s main sources of air pollution. Particulate matter refers to the contamination of microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be directly inhaled and are responsible for serious health issues.
These emissions are directly linked to respiratory diseases, air pollution, and environmental degradation. PM2.5 is dangerous because it can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing severe health issues.
Brick kilns release approximately 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂-e) annually, emitting greenhouse gases and creating a considerable carbon footprint. This issue is further worsening since traditional brick kilns rely on outdated technologies that consume large amounts of coal and other fossil fuels.
Given these realities, the construction industry requires a more sustainable and eco-friendlier alternative to traditional bricks, as the national environment is at stake. This is where the Good Bricks System (GBS) enters the picture, offering a workable solution that makes brick production cleaner and more effective.
What, then, is good brick technology?
InnoCSR, a South Korean company working in sustainable construction technology, developed the Good Bricks System in 2008. The company introduced this innovative, environmentally friendly brick manufacturing technology to promote sustainable brick production across South Asia.
The parent company of Good Bricks, InnoCSR, is officially registered under Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas (GHG) credit program. The VCS Program pushes finance towards activities and initiatives that aim to reduce and remove emissions, with the goal being to improve both livelihood and nature.
The VCS programme is a critical and evolving component of the ongoing effort to protect our environment, having reduced or removed more than 1 billion tonnes of carbon and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the atmosphere.
With the use of special soil stabiliser and advanced machinery, GBS produces high-quality, durable, and cost-effective non-fired bricks. The system, which eliminates coal-based firing, significantly reduces carbon emissions.
The bricks have a compressive strength exceeding 8 MPa, meeting global construction standards and ensuring long-term durability. Additionally, they are smooth with a consistent finish and are structurally reliable.
The Good Bricks System lowers operational costs by reducing dependence on coal and other fuels—all while ensuring continuous production throughout the year. The three key components—90% soil, 9.8% cement, and 0.2% Good Soil Stabiliser (GSS)—make Good Bricks stronger and more durable than conventional bricks.
How good brick ensures sustainability
Good Soil Stabiliser (GSS) is an enabling binding between soil and cement that reaches the quality of bricks to meet strict international standards. The production of good bricks utilises hydraulic machines to press and produce compact bricks at an indoor factory with no fire and only a tenth of the labour and land usage in comparison to traditional brick kilns.
Introduced in Nepal in 2018, the Good Bricks System has since gained momentum. The GSS ensures that bricks exceed 8 MPa in strength, making them highly reliable. GBS significantly cuts down on labour dependency and construction time, making it a more sustainable option. By eliminating coal usage, GBS helps create a cleaner and healthier environment.
“It is cost-competitive compared to traditional bricks and reduces production time six-fold with a better quality. It also cuts greenhouse gas emissions and improves working conditions for employees,” says Professor Prem Nath Maskey of the Institute of Engineering at Tribhuvan University.
Good Bricks are produced with minimal energy consumption. The energy consumed per good brick is 0.0036 Wh, when conventional bricks consume 2,230 Wh per brick – 619,000 times more energy. This comparison demonstrates how good bricks require significantly less energy, further reinforcing sustainability.
In an hour, a machine can produce 3,500 bricks, and in a month, it can easily produce more than a million bricks. The process emits no pollution since it is produced by machines that run on electricity, and it also requires fewer people: approximately 20 workers per shift in a manufacturing site. The bricks can be manufactured indoors year-round, unaffected by the sun, rainfall, or other adverse weather conditions, as no one becomes a seasonal production.
The transitory shift from traditional bricks to good bricks is a pivotal part of sustainable development. The rising environmental concerns and increasing demand for eco-friendly construction materials have established a need that GBS fulfils by presenting a forward-thinking solution. By adopting Good Bricks, Nepal can reduce air pollution, lower carbon emissions, and improve public health, all while maintaining the structural integrity of its buildings.
The CEO of InnoCSR, Sam Yoonsuk Lee, affirmed, “We are thrilled to have achieved this registry for our Good Bricks technology. This step reinforces our mission to drive meaningful environmental change while creating economic opportunities in developing regions. Carbon credits represent a crucial mechanism for scaling our impact and encouraging the adoption of sustainable technologies across the construction industry.”
Good Bricks, at present, are operating in Nepal, India, and Pakistan, transforming the construction industry with their non-fired brick technology and GBS technology. This system is setting the path for a sustainable future as the construction sector adopts more environmentally friendly practices.
Sudipa Mahato is a junior editor for Nepal Connect.
