Kenoteq
Kenoteq is an Edinburgh-based clean-tech company that manufactures ultra-low carbon bricks (K-BRIQ), brick slips (K-SLIP), and tiles from over 90% recycled construction waste using a patented unfired compression process, selling to construction firms, architects, and retailers in the UK and US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kenoteq does
Kenoteq Ltd is a privately-held clean-tech building materials company headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Founded as a spin-out from Heriot-Watt University in 2019 (with research roots going back to ~2015), the company manufactures ultra-low carbon bricks and brick slips made from over 90% recycled construction and demolition waste, using a patented hydraulic compression process that eliminates the energy-intensive kiln-firing stage used in conventional brick production. The product portfolio comprises the K-BRIQ (the flagship unfired structural brick, under 20g CO2e per unit and 95% less embodied carbon than traditional clay bricks), the K-SLIP (a lightweight brick slip for facades and interiors), and the K-TILE (a cut-face terrazzo tile). K-BRIQ is the first brick to achieve BBA certification in the UK (Agrement Certificate 25/7367, June 2025) and DrJ certification in the US (Certificate TER 2404-10), with European certification reportedly underway.
Kenoteq operates a sales-led B2B/B2C hybrid model. Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales of K-BRIQs (sold in void packs of 500 units), with a minimum order of approximately 5m² (around 300 bricks). Distribution runs through a primary UK reseller (Brickability Group), direct enterprise sales for large construction projects, and a consumer-facing channel via B&Q's online storefront (launched December 2025). The company also engages construction professionals through monthly virtual CPD sessions (over 4,000 delegates trained since 2023) and a presence at major garden festivals and trade shows. Its customers span healthcare (NHS New Velindre Cancer Centre), food & beverage (Gail's Bakery, Dogstar), education (Stoke-on-Trent and Oaklands Colleges), real estate (CBRE), and retail (Kaufland/Schwarz Group as innovation partner). Pricing has not been publicly disclosed.
The company has been supported by roughly £1.4–2.1 million in disclosed funding across grants and equity from Zero Waste Scotland (£1M, 2021), Scottish Enterprise (~$657K, 2017), and BE-ST. Manufacturing operates from a Scotland-based facility, with plans for additional regional UK production sites and international expansion signals into Germany, Ireland, and the UAE.
Kenoteq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kenoteq
- Legal name
- Kenoteq Ltd.
- Website
- https://kenoteq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kenoteq is an Edinburgh-based clean-tech company that manufactures ultra-low carbon bricks (K-BRIQ), brick slips (K-SLIP), and tiles from over 90% recycled construction waste using a patented unfired compression process, selling to construction firms, architects, and retailers in the UK and US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kenoteq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Building Materials
- NAICS
- Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing (3271)
- SIC
- Structural Clay Products (3250)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sand-Lime / Fly-Ash Bricks & Blocks (IMADABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Masonry Veneer Units (Thin Brick, Stone Veneer) (IMADABAI)
Keywords
Where Kenoteq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kenoteq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- K-BRIQ sales: Primary revenue from selling K-BRIQ bricks. Additional revenue potential from K-SLIP variants and custom color/shape options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard K-BRIQ pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Kenoteq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kenoteq manufactures and sells the K-BRIQ®, an unfired ultra-low carbon brick made from over 90% recycled construction and demolition waste via a patented hydraulic compression process, along with K-SLIP™ lightweight brick slips and K-TILE® cut-face tiles. The company sells these sustainable masonry substitutes to construction firms, developers, architects, and public-sector clients, and through retail channels such as B&Q online. Products carry BBA (UK) and DrJ (US) certifications and emit 95% less embodied carbon than conventional fired clay bricks.
Product overview
Kenoteq is a clean-tech building materials company that produces ultra-low carbon bricks and brick slips from recycled construction and demolition waste. The company's product portfolio centers on three main offerings: the K-BRIQ® (the core unfired brick product with BBA and DrJ certification), the K-SLIP™ (a lighter brick slip variant for facades and interiors), and K-TILE® (a cut-face terrazzo tile exposing recycled content). All products are manufactured using a patented compression process that eliminates firing, uses only 10% of traditional brick production energy, and achieves 95% less embodied carbon than conventional bricks. The company sells directly and through distributors including Brickability Group and merchants, with consumer availability through B&Q online.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- K-BRIQ: Ultra-low carbon brick made from over 90% recycled construction and demolition waste. Available in multiple colors including Medero Dark Grey, Heriot Mustard, Watt Brown, Chapman Burnt Orange, Gullane Cyan, and Gillespie Magenta.
- K-SLIP
Products and services
- K-BRIQ®
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% less embodied carbon than conventional bricks
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kenoteq
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kenoteq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Kenoteq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Heriot-Watt UniversitycoreKenoteq is a spin-out company from Heriot-Watt University. The proprietary manufacturing technology was developed through over a decade of research at the university. Ongoing research partnership.
- Hamilton Waste & Recycling LtdcoreWaste management partner providing construction and demolition waste for K-BRIQ production. Co-founding partner of Kenoteq, supplying the raw materials that make up over 90% of K-BRIQ content.
- Brickability GroupcorePrimary UK distribution partner for K-BRIQ products. Brickability Group supplies construction materials to merchants and building projects across the UK.
- Material Source StudiominorLondon showroom partnership for displaying and showcasing K-BRIQ products to architects and designers in the London market.
- Kaufland/Schwarz GroupminorEuropean retail and innovation partner exploring sustainable building materials for construction projects across their property portfolio.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kenoteq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ibstock Brick: One of the UK's largest clay brick manufacturers with an extensive product portfolio serving residential and commercial construction. Direct competitor in the UK brick specification market, with established relationships among architects, contractors and merchants that Kenoteq is also targeting.
- Forterra: Major UK manufacturer of bricks and concrete building products, including the iconic London Brick range. Competes head-to-head with K-BRIQ in UK masonry specification and is also pursuing its own decarbonisation initiatives that define the competitive landscape.
- Michelmersh Brick Holdings: UK-focused premium brick manufacturer whose heritage and speciality product portfolio overlaps with Kenoteq's positioning around design-led, specification-grade masonry. Both companies compete for architect-driven specification in commercial projects.
- Wienerberger: Global brick leader with significant UK presence and a stated ESG roadmap covering low-carbon masonry products. Comparable to Kenoteq as a brick manufacturer actively developing sustainable alternatives in the same specification channel.
Broad incumbents
- Marshalls: UK-listed manufacturer of landscape and building products with a growing sustainability product range sold through the same merchant and specification channels Kenoteq accesses. Adjacent competitor with material overlap in façade and hardscape applications.
- Aggregate Industries: UK-based producer of aggregates, concrete and asphalt with a sustainability roadmap covering low-carbon concrete. Overlapping construction-industry customer base and a potential incumbent response to circular building materials.
- Brickability Group: UK building products distributor that supplies bricks and masonry to merchants and major construction projects — and is Kenoteq's primary distribution partner. Comparable as a route-to-market in UK brick specification and a benchmark for distribution scale.
- Saint-Gobain: Global building materials group with extensive UK presence across masonry, insulation and façades. Wider portfolio than Kenoteq, but overlapping specification relationships with UK architects and developers pursuing net-zero builds.
- Heidelberg Materials: Global building materials group operating cement, aggregates and concrete products across Europe, including the UK. Incumbent competitor with deep decarbonisation R&D and the capital base to launch competing low-carbon masonry if it chooses to.
Emerging players
- StoneCycling: Netherlands-based maker of bricks and façade products from 100% recycled demolition waste. Closest conceptual peer to K-BRIQ — both brands target premium specifications with circular-economy masonry, and both pursue building certifications and designer-led projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kenoteq social profiles
Digital presenceKenoteq compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kenoteq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kenoteq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Kenoteq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kenoteq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kenoteq
What does Kenoteq do?
Kenoteq manufactures and sells the K-BRIQ®, an unfired ultra-low carbon brick made from over 90% recycled construction and demolition waste via a patented hydraulic compression process, along with K-SLIP™ lightweight brick slips and K-TILE® cut-face tiles. The company sells these sustainable masonry substitutes to construction firms, developers, architects, and public-sector clients, and through retail channels such as B&Q online. Products carry BBA (UK) and DrJ (US) certifications and emit 95% less embodied carbon than conventional fired clay bricks.
Is Kenoteq a public or private company?
Kenoteq is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kenoteq founded?
Kenoteq was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kenoteq based?
Kenoteq is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kenoteq make money?
One revenue line is on record: K-BRIQ sales.
Who are Kenoteq's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ibstock Brick, Forterra, Michelmersh Brick Holdings and Wienerberger. Broad incumbents are Marshalls, Aggregate Industries, Brickability Group, Saint-Gobain and Heidelberg Materials. StoneCycling is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kenoteq have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kenoteq.
What industry is Kenoteq in?
Kenoteq's product category is Sustainable Building Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADABAF, Sand-Lime / Fly-Ash Bricks & Blocks, with a secondary code of IMADABAI, Masonry Veneer Units (Thin Brick, Stone Veneer). Its NAICS code is 3271 and its SIC code is 3250.