Analyzing the Impact of Circular Economy Strategies on the European Bricks Supply Chain

Bricks are among the most widely used materials in construction, valued for their diverse properties, including mechanical strength. Europe is a major producer of refractories, with an annual output of 4.6 million tonnes, valued at €3.3 billion, and supporting over 18,000 jobs [1]. Within the EU, the wall and floor tiles, bricks and roof tiles, and refractory sectors collectively emit approximately 19 Mt CO₂ annually [2]. Of these emissions, 66% result from fuel combustion, while electricity use and process emissions account for 18% and 16%, respectively [2]. The production of fired bricks generates an estimated 1,287 kg CO₂ per tonne, encompassing raw material extraction, crushing, sieving, mixing, pressing, kiln firing, and transportation to construction sites [3]. To mitigate this environmental impact, the circular transition of the European clay bricks industry could play a significant role. With a service life of up to 150 years, bricks offer durability, adaptability, and recyclability, making them a key material for circular building design. Composed entirely of natural resources, clay bricks can be reused and recycled, promoting greater circularity within the construction sector. Within this context, this study aims to evaluate the potential impact of closed-loop circular economy strategies on the brick industry's supply chain and production processes, with a focus on its energy consumption, raw material usage, and costs associated with implementing these practices. The analysis will investigate the brick value chain to explore the remanufacturing of process residues, as well as the reuse and recycling of end-of-life bricks from demolition. The findings highlight promising results, indicating that adopting CE strategies in the brick industry necessitates significant modifications to the current supply chain and production processes.