Brick Kiln Owners Willing to Adopt Cleaner Practices with Training and Support

Dhaka, 9 May 2025 — A new study has revealed that brick kiln owners in Bangladesh are open to adopting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly practices when they receive the right training and technical assistance. These operational changes deliver social benefits that outweigh the costs by a factor of 65 to 1.

Brick Industry: A Key Polluter in South Asia

Although brick manufacturing is vital to South Asia’s construction economy, it is also one of the leading contributors to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. In countries like Bangladesh, where brick kilns are often informal and unregulated, the coal-fueled industry significantly harms human health, agriculture, and the environment.

Research Backed by Global Institutions

This evidence-based strategy was developed through a collaboration between Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), Stanford University, icddr,b, Greentech Knowledge Solutions, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The research, published in the journal Science, is the first rigorous demonstration of how simple business practice changes can improve efficiency in traditional brick kilns without requiring legal enforcement.

Field Trial: Practical Changes Yield Strong Results

During the 2022–2023 brick kiln season, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 276 kilns tested the impact of providing education, training, and technical support. The interventions included:

• Optimizing brick stacking
• Using powered biomass fuel instead of coal

These changes led to:

• 23% reduction in energy consumption
• 20% reduction in CO₂ and PM2.5 emissions
• Significant savings on coal
• Higher-quality bricks

Importantly, 65% of kiln owners adopted these changes, and many continued or expanded them the following year.

A Win-Win for Business and Environment

Lead researcher Dr. Nina Brooks, assistant professor of global health at BUSPH, noted:

“Our findings show that when owners receive the knowledge and see the economic benefit, they are willing to make simple changes that protect both health and the environment.”

Bangladesh produces around 27 billion bricks annually, contributing to 17% of national CO₂ emissions and 11% of PM2.5 emissions. However, regulations like bans on firewood or distance requirements from schools are poorly enforced. Many kilns operate illegally near public institutions.

Addressing Gaps in Awareness and Worker Conditions

A 2024 pilot study revealed that many owners of zigzag kilns — a design already meant to reduce emissions — were unaware of how to operate them efficiently. Some feared the interventions were too complex for their workers. Although a business case was presented for incentivizing workers, uptake remained low.

Debashish Biswas, assistant scientist at icddr,b, emphasized:

“Technology is only part of the solution. If workers are not looked after, operations don’t run smoothly. There’s a real opportunity to align better worker conditions with business success.”

Economic and Environmental Impact

Using a social cost of carbon of $185 per metric ton, the researchers calculated that the benefits of the intervention outweighed the costs 65 to 1, with CO₂ reductions costing only $2.85 per ton. If all zigzag kilns in Bangladesh adopted these changes, emissions could drop by 2.4 million metric tons per brick season—equal to a 2% cut in the nation’s annual CO₂ emissions.

Scalable Solution for South Asia and Beyond

Dr. Sameer Maithel of Greentech Knowledge Solutions noted that the energy-saving practices were developed in collaboration with forward-thinking brickmakers.

“The informal sector doesn’t always need outside tech. There are already innovations in use—we need systems to identify and scale them.”

The team is now exploring how to scale the intervention across other South Asian countries like India and Nepal, and how to develop next-generation energy solutions for brick manufacturing.

Dr. Stephen Luby, co-senior author and professor at Stanford University, concluded:

“This intervention’s success proves the value of working closely with local stakeholders to co-create practical environmental solutions.”

About icddr,b

An internationally renowned health research institution based in Bangladesh, icddr,b has been solving public health challenges through scientific research and innovation for over 60 years. It continues to serve millions and trains future global health leaders.

About Boston University School of Public Health

Founded in 1976, BUSPH ranks among the top ten public health schools globally. Its faculty conduct groundbreaking research aimed at improving health outcomes, especially among disadvantaged populations.