Scottish cleantech pioneer Kenoteq nominated for prestigious £1 million Earthshot Prize 2025

Sam Chapman, co-founder and executive director of Kenoteq, said:

“Being nominated for the Earthshot Prize is fantastic recognition for our team’s work in developing a truly transformative solution to construction’s environmental crisis. Unlike approaches that simply treat the symptoms of the industry’s environmental impact, the K-BRIQ addresses the root cause by utilising industry waste to deliver a product that performs exactly like clay bricks.

“The construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and safety. Our nomination demonstrates that these goals are not mutually exclusive – we can build better while building greener. This global recognition will help us scale our impact and work towards a more sustainable future for construction.”

Kenoteq’s East Lothian facility near Edinburgh is currently able to produce two million bricks annually, with capacity to double production to four million as demand grows. The company has already secured dual international certification through the BBA and the prestigious DrJ Technical Evaluation Report (TER) for the United States market, with European certification underway.

Early adopter projects across the UK and Europe have showcased the K-BRIQ’s capabilities, including installations at Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre, Oaklands College in St Albans, a sustainability-blueprint hypermarket in Germany, and the fast-growing Gail’s Bakery chain.

The five 2025 Earthshot Prize winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 5 November at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro – the first time the Prize will be held in Latin America.