The 80% CO2 reduction is caused by 2 factors:
 

On the one hand, with the Vibropress and mixing process, we no longer need energy-intensive high-temperature kilns. So the bricks are not fired, but pressed and held together using a binder. Firing clay (calcination) causes a chemical reaction that emits large quantities of CO2. As we do not work with clay here, the CO2 emissions of the Lowie Bricks during the production process are only a fraction of the CO2 emitted when producing clay bricks.

​

On the other hand, there is the accelerated process of carbonation. This is a natural binding process in which weak hydroxides start to bind with CO2. The speed of this process depends on the CO2 access to the rock mass. Because there is a high air content in the Lowie Bricks (e.g. much higher than in concrete), there is also a high CO2 absorption potential. Consequently, there is an exceptionally fast carbonation process that results in the capture of 58% of the CO2, initially emitted during the production of the base materials, over the lifetime of the brick (period of 30 years).

​

Both these factors result in total emissions (over the entire life cycle of the brick) of 8.47 kgCO2/m². For clay bricks, this is 42 kgCO2/m².