SUSTAINABILITY
& CERTIFICATIONS
Sustainable building is not an option. It's the new standard.
Flexbrick® manufactures ceramic fabric using renewable biogas, dry-assembles it with two pure materials, and designs it to leave no trace at the end of its lifespan. It is compliant with BREEAM, LEED, WELL, and the European Green Taxonomy.
+16.700 t
CO₂ avoided per year
with renewable biogas
100%
recyclable and detachable
dry assembled
−60%
Installation time
vs. conventional ceramic
2
unique materials
ceramic + stainless steel
Verifiable data. Methodology available in the sustainability technical dossier.
Manufacturing: the energy that moves each piece
The sustainability of a material doesn’t begin on-site. It begins in the kiln.
Flexbrick® fires its ceramic pieces exclusively with renewable biogas from an organic waste treatment plant located a few kilometers from our factory in Els Hostalets de Pierola, Barcelona. This isn’t carbon offsetting. It’s a direct replacement of fossil fuels in the production process.
The result is a ceramic with a significantly lower embodied carbon footprint than systems manufactured using conventional natural gas. This is an increasingly relevant factor for projects that must justify the embodied carbon in materials to BREEAM certifiers or to meet the requirements of the European Green Taxonomy.
In addition to fuel, we optimize the production process with criteria for energy efficiency and industrial waste reduction. Each production phase is audited with full traceability.
What this means for your project:
Documentable reduced embedded carbon for LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) reports
LEED Energy and Atmosphere Category Score
Compliance with the climate change mitigation criterion of the Green Taxonomy
Product: designed to leave no trace
A sustainable construction system cannot end up in a landfill. Flexbrick® is designed so that, at the end of its useful life, each component can be separated, recovered, and reintegrated into the production cycle.
Two materials. Zero adhesives. Total separation.
Flexbrick® ceramic fabric is composed solely of ceramic pieces and stainless steel mesh, dry-assembled without mortar, adhesive, or sealants. At the end of the building’s lifespan—or simply when the owner wants to renovate the facade—the system is dismantled panel by panel, and the two materials are cleanly separated for recycling.
The ceramic returns to the ceramic cycle. The stainless steel returns to the metallurgical cycle. No mixing, no contaminants, no demolition waste to manage.
Piece-by-piece disassembly
Flexbrick® ceramic fabric is composed solely of ceramic pieces and stainless steel mesh, dry-assembled without mortar, adhesive, or sealants. At the end of the building’s lifespan—or simply when the owner wants to renovate the facade—the system is dismantled panel by panel, and the two materials are cleanly separated for recycling.
The ceramic returns to the ceramic cycle. The stainless steel returns to the metallurgical cycle. No mixing, no contaminants, no demolition waste to manage.
Compact transport: fewer trucks, fewer emissions
The ceramic fabric is transported rolled or folded, significantly reducing the load volume per square meter of facade compared to rigid panel systems. Fewer trucks per construction site means fewer distribution emissions, less heavy traffic in urban environments, and less unloading logistics.
Construction: Less impact at each phase
Facades are one of the areas that generate the most waste on a construction site. Mortar, adhesives, scraps, packaging, and pieces broken during installation. Flexbrick® ceramic fabric tackles these sources of waste at their source.
Dry Installation: The Greatest Revolution in Construction Sustainability
No mortar, no adhesive, no curing time. Flexbrick® modules arrive prefabricated on-site and are installed suspended from metal guides using a dry suspension system. The result is a facade system that generates minimal wet waste, virtually zero cement dust emissions, and radically simplified waste management.
For a construction manager with a demanding Construction Waste Management Plan—whether required by municipal regulations or the developer’s ESG report—this feature is quantifiable and documentable in the plan’s report.
Prefabrication: Less Waste, More Precision
The module is manufactured in a workshop with the exact dimensions specified in the project, minimizing on-site cuts and defective pieces. Less material waste, fewer ceramic debris containers, and less special waste management.
Reduced construction time: smaller logistical footprint
Installation up to 60% faster than conventional ceramic systems not only benefits the developer (lower financial costs) and the construction company (reduced risk of penalties), but also the urban environment: fewer weeks of cranes, scaffolding, and trucks on the road.
Certifications compatible with Flexbrick®
Flexbrick® has been designed to meet the requirements of the main sustainability assessment frameworks in building.
BREEAM — Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
BREEAM is the most widely used sustainability certification system in Europe and the benchmark standard for institutional investors in markets such as the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and France.
Mat 01 — Life Cycle Environmental Impact:Verifiable data from the production phase (biogas, reduced embodied carbon) and end-of-life (disassembly and full recyclability).
Mat 02 — Responsible Sourcing of Materials:Ceramic produced in Spain using local raw materials and AISI 316 stainless steel with traceable origin.
Mat 03 — Design for Durability and Resilience:Lifespan exceeding 50 years with low maintenance requirements and piece-by-piece replacement capability.
Jan 01 — Reduction of Energy Consumption: As a ventilated façade or passive solar filter, Flexbrick® helps reduce the building’s heating and cooling load.
LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEED is the benchmark standard in English-speaking markets (USA, Australia, Canada) and in multinational projects for American corporate tenants. Flexbrick® has completed projects in Australia that have contributed to LEED certification processes.
MR Credit — Environmental Product Declarations:The system can submit Environmental Product Declaration data.
MR Credit — Sourcing of Raw Materials:Locally sourced ceramics (Spain/Europe), natural and recyclable materials.
MR Credit — Construction Waste Management:Dry installation minimizes construction waste and facilitates the Waste Management Plan.
EA — Energy and Atmosphere:The passive solar filter function helps reduce the building’s cooling load.
WELL Building Standard
WELL is the specific standard for occupant well-being. Flexbrick® contributes to two key concepts:
Light — Mind 07: Support for the circadian rhythm: A Flexbrick® façade, acting as a passive solar filter, allows for the modulation of natural light, preventing direct glare without sacrificing brightness.
Mind — Mind 09: Access to nature and aesthetics: Terracotta ceramic contributes to the perception of well-being and connection with natural materials valued by WELL evaluators.
European Green Taxonomy — Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139
The European Green Taxonomy is the legal framework that European institutional investors use to assess the ESG alignment of real estate assets. Flexbrick® contributes directly to three goals:
Goal 1 — Climate change mitigation: Manufacturing with renewable biogas reduces the material’s embodied carbon.
Goal 4 — Circular economy: This is the criterion where Flexbrick® has the most documentable contribution:
- Design for disassembly: the system can be disassembled panel by panel without damage to the materials
- Recyclability: two pure materials (ceramic and stainless steel) that are 100% separable and recoverable
- Dry assembly: no adhesives or mortars that contaminate the materials
- Minimizing construction waste: prefabricated installation without wet work
Goal 6 — Biodiversity: The passive solar filter function can contribute to reducing the effect urban heat island in projects where it is combined with green roofs or landscaped spaces.
The figures of our sustainability
We don’t make claims we can’t prove. Here are the verifiable facts about the Flexbrick® system:
The CO₂ calculation methodology is available in the technical dossier. Contact our team to request the complete documentation.
| Indicator | Data | Reference |
| CO₂ avoided annually | +16,700 tons | Biogas vs. natural gas |
| Executed projects | +100 | On 4 continents |
| System recyclability | 100% | 2 pure materials, dry |
| Installation time reduction | Up to 60% | vs. conventional ceramics |
| Component materials | 2 | Ceramic + AISI 316 stainless steel |
| System Lifespan | +50 years | No relevant degradation |
| Production energy origin | Renewable biogas | Local waste plant |
| Installation residues | Minimum | Dry installation |
Frequently asked questions about sustainability
Does Flexbrick® have a verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
Flexbrick® has technical sustainability documentation that includes carbon footprint data, material composition, and recyclability criteria. Contact our technical team to receive the documentation package applicable to BREEAM, LEED, and European Green Taxonomy certification processes. We are in the process of obtaining a verified EPD according to ISO 14025.
What is the difference between “carbon offsetting” and “manufacturing with biogas”?
Carbon offsetting involves financing external projects that absorb CO₂ to balance one’s own emissions. Manufacturing with renewable biogas means that the fuel burned in the kiln during the production process is not fossil natural gas, but biogas from renewable sources. It is not an accounting offset: it is a physical substitution of the fuel, which directly eliminates emissions at the point of production.
How is the demountability justified to a Green Taxonomy auditor?
The Flexbrick® system is mechanically assembled dry, without adhesives or mortars. The modules are disassembled by removing the metal suspension guides. Each individual ceramic piece can be removed from the module without special tools. This feature is documented in the technical installation and disassembly manual, available upon request.
Does the ceramic fabric act as a passive solar filter in all configurations?
The passive solar filter function depends on the fabric’s density. In open configurations (greater spacing between pieces), the system allows more light to pass through and less solar control. In dense configurations, it acts as a lattice and significantly reduces direct radiation. The density is determined during the project according to the orientation of each façade and the energy efficiency objectives.
Can I use Flexbrick® in a project that requires BREEAM Excellent certification?
Yes. Flexbrick® can contribute to the score in multiple BREEAM categories (Mat 01, Mat 02, Mat 03, Ene 01). However, the final score depends on the complete building configuration and other project factors. We recommend involving the BREEAM assessor from the design phase to maximize the contribution of each system, including Flexbrick®.
What is the difference compared to other ceramic systems in terms of sustainability?
Conventional ceramic systems are durable and low-maintenance materials. Flexbrick®’s specific difference lies in three points: manufacturing with biogas (the only ceramic manufacturer in Spain that does so systematically), dry assembly with two pure materials (maximum recyclability), and minimization of waste during installation (no wet work required).
Download the sustainability dossier
Everything you need to justify choosing Flexbrick® to your client, the BREEAM certifier, or the fund’s ESG auditor.
The dossier includes:
– Description of the manufacturing process using renewable biogas
– Data on CO₂ avoided and calculation methodology
– Material composition and recyclability criteria
– Contribution table by BREEAM and LEED category
– Argumentation for the European Green Taxonomy
– Technical data sheets on durability and maintenance
Projects where sustainability was decisive
Jardín Niel · Toulouse, Francia
Premio FAD Internacional 2017
Permeable ceramic paving that integrates stormwater management with the material identity of the public space. Urban sustainability as the central theme of the award-winning project.
Parking Saint-Roch · Montpellier, Francia
German Design Award 2018
Over 7,000 m² of ceramic facade in an urban parking garage. The ceramic fabric lattice provides the required natural ventilation without active systems. Dry installation on the existing structure.
New Maitland Hospital · New South Wales, Australia
Great healthcare equipment
A large healthcare facility that chose ceramic tile for its combination of durability, ease of cleaning, low maintenance, and material warmth. A building that needs to operate for decades with the lowest possible operating costs.