Clay,
the main raw material for manufacturing brick, is quarried and is also taken
from earth-moving activities and infrastructure projects such as roadbuilding,
as a by-product.
Water is used in the manufacturing process, with
collected rainwater used where possible to supplement the clean water used.
Many brick manufacturers use heat recuperation during the manufacturing
process. Heat from the kilns is reused in driers, where bricks are dried before
firing.
Where lime mortar is used, it is possible to
deconstruct brickwork and reuse the bricks in new construction. Where cement
mortar is used, it is more difficult to remove mortar from the bricks, but they
can be recycled by crushing for use as infilling material. It is advised to be
cautious with reclaimed bricks, as there may be no evidence to prove their
technical performance.
Other sustainability points are that clay brick is
self-finishing and only requires mortar repointing very occasionally, making it
a long-lasting and almost maintenance-free material choice. Bricks require
minimal packaging and many brick manufacturers are ISO 14001 certified.