In everything we do, upcycling, design and craftsmanship play a central role. Beyond functionality, we’re committed to proving that waste can be a resource that opens up a new range of aesthetic and surprising forms, textures, and colours.
With a value chain involving many different companies, each with different goals and ambitions, the process is complicated:
In our laboratory, we’re constantly investing time and effort into developing new recipes.
These recipes eventually result in a building product that is both safe to use and of the highest quality. But that’s just part of the story. We’re especially interested in creating unique and beautiful materials. Materials that allow the architect to realise their design. Especially for larger projects, we invite architects into our laboratory to think along with us in terms of colour, texture, size and shape.
Our partner Biomason is working with a team of 100+ people on constantly improving the technology and creating better recipes with improved environmental performance. Together, we continue to increase the aesthetic and technical possibilities.
StoneCycling was conceived at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Then student, Tom van Soest focused on upcycling waste he found in vacant buildings awaiting demolition. Tom graduates from the Design Academy and founds his company StoneCycling with long-time friend Ward Massa. While Tom stays focused on his strengths in product development, Ward takes on the role of business strategist.
Even though there is serious interest in their products by architects and project developers met at various trade shows and events, StoneCycling has yet to sell their first brick or tile.
All that’s needed are the right certificates to prove their bricks fulfil the legal requirements of health, safety and environmental regulations, but the research needed to receive these documents does not come cheap and money is running out.
After a feature in regional newspaper Limburgs Dagblad, based in Tom’s home province of Limburg in The Netherlands, the phone starts ringing.
The launch of the first range of WasteBasedBricks® results in more media coverage, ranging from various Dutch national newspapers to even more prestigious mentions such as one in the British daily newspaper The Guardian.
These are exciting times for StoneCycling, as building from waste is now no longer just an idea, a concept or a thought. What started out as a dream is becoming a reality.
StoneCycling gets featured in respected publications such as Fast Company, Smithsonian and Dezeen. But the year doesn’t end here: with an approach that demonstrates “courage and the passion of a true artisan”, Tom also gets chosen as the winner of this year’s Young Designer Award at the Dutch Design Week!
Scaling up the business provides an exciting challenge for the team, and the search for a committed production partner comes to fruition. Derck Zilverschoon, owner of the highly specialised brick production company Zilverschoon Randwijk, shares StoneCycling’s passion for sustainability. Together they start working further on developing and scaling up the next generation of building materials.
The international focus also starts to pay off with new projects being realised in Amsterdam, London and New York. This year also marks another milestone as StoneCycling’s biggest project to date, a residential development with over 260.000 kilograms of upcycled waste, is being constructed on 11th Avenue in New York City.
StoneCyling has come a long way, but the journey to a circular world is only just starting. From large and small building facades to the interiors of houses, offices, cafes and restaurants, the team can’t wait to transform even more tons of waste into unique spaces around the world!
2022 will mark the launch of new products and technologies that enables StoneCycling to take a step closer to fulfilling their mission.
