Early Intervention from Recycling Commercialisation Centre will Expand the Market for Recycled Glass

A building products company with the potential to manufacture construction products such as pavers and brick cladding with an exceptionally high recycled glass content is being offered development support by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Stoneglass Building Products Limited will receive incubation services and support from the Imperial Innovations Recycling Commercialisation Centre, a facility funded by WRAP to bring new recycling products and technologies to market. It is the second company to receive support via this route, and was chosen on the basis that it has the potential to reduce waste to landfill and make a significant impact on glass recycling.

Commenting on the agreement Dr Michael Anderson, MD of Stoneglass Building Products, said: “Stoneglass’ technology enables very large tonnages of post consumer glass to replace virgin raw materials in the manufacture of cost competitive, high quality, building products. We are delighted to have the support of the Recycling Commercialisation Centre and we look forward to working with them to bring the advantages of our technology to the volume building products market.”

Originating from Staffordshire University, Stoneglass first received WRAP support to develop its alternative technology through funding large-scale trials, and conducting detailed market research, economic feasibility studies and an environmental impact assessment.

These studies showed that the Stoneglass products required about 25% less resource than traditional clay products to make, had lower drying requirements and could be fired at much cooler temperatures than their clay equivalent, resulting in lower energy requirements. WRAP has calculated that the Stoneglass process reduces CO2 impact by one third when compared to traditional clay counterparts.

Stoneglass now offers worldwide licence opportunities to displace traditional clay based bricks, pavers, and brick cladding by using glass waste to develop construction materials with an exceptionally high recycled content of 97%. The company’s robust intellectual property and strong technical development team were key factors in it qualifying for further support through the Commercialisation Centre.

Steve Creed, Director of Business Growth at WRAP, said: “Developing new high-value products from recycled materials is exactly the sort of impact we anticipated that the Commercialisation Centre would deliver. New and innovative product businesses like Stoneglass can benefit from high level support over a long period of time to accelerate their development and to ensure their real commercial potential is fulfilled.”

The Centre will assist in the development of Stoneglass and help to bring their new and innovative recycling technology to market by:

• providing resources for technical testing and business planning;
• augmenting the existing management team;
• providing access to funds and investors; and
• developing and exploiting product markets.

The Recycling Commercialisation Centre is operated on WRAP’s behalf by Imperial Innovations, the technology, commercialisation and investment company. Further information about the Recycling Commercialisation Centre can be found at www.imperialinnovations.co.uk. For full details of all the business support services available from WRAP, go to www.wrap.org.uk.