The World’s first ceramic glazed tiles – made from 100% recycled materials

"OUR STORY STARTS WHERE OTHERS FINISH"

ALUSID, a spin-out company from the University of Central Lancashire, has been making architectural surfacing products at its Lancashire-based plant, since starting operations in 2016\.

Our patented, award-winning technology utilises recycled industrial ceramic, glass and mineral waste, diverting them from landfill or low-value applications, to create unique surfacing products, including tiles and solid surfaces such as tables and bar-tops. To date we have undertaken numerous projects for major brands, such as Harrods, Nandos, Pret-a-Manger, Hilton, H&M, Amazon and Coya Restaurants.

ALUSID's current glazed tile range comprise of around 95% recycled content. Our vision for this project is to develop the world's first mass-produced, commercially available tile range made from 100% recycled waste - eliminating any reliance on virgin raw materials. Producing the world's first and only truly sustainable tile, would offer a paradigm shift in ceramic tile manufacturing, whilst providing ALUSID and the UK tile industry a significant commercial advantage over global competitors.

In order to achieve market penetration, ALUSID is currently moving towards high-volume manufacturing from a hand-made batch process, aiming to increase production capacity of 95% recycled content tiles, from 4000m2 per annum to 1000m2 per day. COVID-19 permitting, we hope to launch our first mass-produced range early next year through Topps Tiles, the UK's largest tile retailer. Our intention is to centre production in the UK, through collaboration with our project partner Original Style. As one of the UK's few remaining tile manufacturers, Original Style has the kiln capacity and volume manufacturing know-how, to enable the increases in production volumes required by a commercial retailer.

This Innovation Award will allow us the opportunity to develop glazes appropriate for fast-fire high-volume manufacturing in collaboration with our project partner, where recycled waste will be utilised to replace virgin raw materials currently used in the preparation of ceramic glazes.

A dramatic increase in production capacity, utilising fast-fire kiln technology would mean significant increases in the amount of glaze used. In turn, higher volumes of glaze, offer exponentially greater cost and environmental benefits.

Developing glazes made from recycled waste and producing the world's first 100% recycled mass-produced, commercially available tile range would offer significant economic, social and environmental impacts; reduction of excessive landfill practices, reduction of environmental impacts associated with the extraction and transportation of virgin raw materials, a unique and timely eco-tile to the global tile market, and the safeguarding of UK jobs.