Vandersanden’s CO₂-Absorbing Facade Brick: Carbstone® Technology by Orbix in Practice

The construction sector is one of the largest contributors to global CO₂ emissions. In 2022, it accounted for approximately 13% of total emissions—more than global car traffic combined—making the need for sustainable innovations greater than ever. Vandersanden, a Belgian manufacturer of brick alternatives, has partnered with Orbix to advance circular construction through Carbstone® technology. This technology plays a key role in the development of Vandersanden’s new CO₂-absorbing facade brick.

What makes Vandersanden’s facade brick unique?

Unlike traditional bricks, which are fired in kilns at 1,075 degrees Celsius and require significant amounts of fossil energy, Vandersanden offers an innovative solution. The new facade bricks are produced without heavy energy consumption. They harden in a controlled environment where CO₂ from the air is captured and chemically bonded to calcium-rich materials, such as Carbinox—a secondary raw material from the steel industry processed by Orbix.

The result? A sustainable building material that is not only strong but also has a net-negative CO₂ footprint. Each ton of facade bricks captures a net 28.28 kilograms of CO₂, even after accounting for emissions from production, transport, and raw material extraction.

Carbstone®: The technology behind the innovation

At the core of these facade bricks is Carbstone®, an Orbix technology that transforms industrial waste streams into high-quality building materials by leveraging the reactivity of calcium-containing secondary raw materials. The process works as follows: liquid CO₂ from controlled industrial sources, such as the Port of Antwerp, is mixed with outside air to achieve a higher CO₂ concentration (30%) before being introduced into a sealed curing chamber. Inside, calcium oxide (present in Carbinox), moisture, and CO₂ react over 24 hours to form calcium carbonate. This binding agent gives the bricks their hardness and stability.

Thanks to this approach, Carbstone® technology replaces cement—typically a major source of CO₂ emissions—and permanently sequesters CO₂ in the final product.

Application and impact

Vandersanden’s facade bricks are already being used in projects such as a new residential district in Almere Buiten, demonstrating their market potential and real-world applicability. Vandersanden’s factory, which operates entirely on renewable energy (solar panels and wind turbines), has an annual production capacity of 20 million bricks, with plans to scale up to 35 million. This marks a significant step toward scalable sustainable solutions in the construction sector.

Working together for a greener future

Carbstone® technology by Orbix proves that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. By utilizing waste materials and capturing CO₂, these solutions provide both ecological benefits and economic opportunities. Together with pioneers like Vandersanden, Orbix continues to develop technologies that contribute to a circular economy and make the construction sector future-proof.

Would you like to learn more about our Carbstone® technology and how it can transform your projects? Contact our team and explore the possibilities.

(Source: De Morgen, 4 March: LINK)