The first of the "naterra™ products comes from a project, sponsored by WRAP as part of its programme to develop a range of potential end-uses for recycled plasterboard waste. It is proposed that the product will be targeted at a number of construction product applications.

Natural unfired clay will be used as a binding agent and to facilitate extrusion of the composite blocks through traditional brick making technology. The blocks are forced dried (using waste heat) to develop a low embodied energy block product containing significant proportion of recycled plasterboard (potentially >50%) with enhanced physical properties when compared with natural clay.

The gypsum block product has the potential to incorporate recycled plasterboard from both new build sources as well as from demolition sites where contamination levels are potentially higher.

After preliminary laboratory investigations involving appropriate mix-design development and product testing, full-scale factory trials have been undertaken in collaboration with our production partners to demonstrate and establish the technical, economic and environmental benefits of using recycled plasterboard in the manufacture of a natural block product. Product