Manchester-based R&D start-up, Dekiln, has entered into a strategic partnership with Johnson Tiles to take its new sustainable tile concept from the laboratory to industrial-scale manufacturing.
The technology developed out of Sustainable Ventures’ climate tech hub could transform the British ceramics industry and is poised to make a big impact in the built environment.
By combining plant-derived binders with waste mineral powders, such as recycled gypsum plaster, the finished product looks, feels and has similar properties to existing tiles, but does not need to be fired or glazed at high temperatures – so avoiding energy intensive kilns.
This is an important development for construction companies as they strive towards Net Zero, seen as the technology cuts embodied carbon by 94 per cent compared to traditional ceramic tiles and also contains more than 95 per cent recycled content. Testament to this, the tiles were installed in Manchester’s revered Renold building as part of the £1.70 billion innovation district hub known as Sister.
“Johnson Tiles are really excited to be forming this partnership with Dekiln and look forward to adding our technical expertise and market knowledge to ensure this unique concept reaches its potential in the marketplace,” says Jason Bridges, Procurement Director at Johnson Tiles.
The novel composition has caught the attention of Intellectual property (IP) commercialisation specialists, Frontier IP, who have a track record in working with cutting edge spin-outs to advance the development of sustainable materials and helped formalise the collaboration.
Frontier IP Chief Executive Officer Neil Crabb said:
“Dekiln’s groundbreaking technology has strong potential. Johnson Tiles interest in forging a strategic partnership provides further validation of that, following on from Dekiln founder, Dr. Aled Roberts’ success in being named as a Green Future Fellow by the Royal Academy of Engineering.”
The prestigious award from The Royal Academy of Engineering came at the end of 2025 and raised £3m of funding to benefit the company as it takes its kiln-free, low-energy, ceramic-like composite material to market.
“Johnson Tiles’ technical expertise, market reach and sustainability focus makes them an ideal partner to support our ambition to scale-up and commercialise our technology,” says Dr. Aled Roberts, Dekiln’s founder and Chief Executive Officer.
“This marks an important milestone for Dekiln as we transition from the laboratory to industrial scale manufacturing.”
It is hoped that aligning in this way will accelerate commercialisation of Dekiln’s proprietary processes and materials in the UK and beyond by leveraging Johnson Tiles’ manufacturing expertise, market access and sector leadership.
“Aled’s fresh thinking on solving the recycling of waste, alongside removing the sintering process to create a product with all the performance and aesthetic qualities of traditional tiles without anywhere near the embodied carbon, is a real game-changer and a concept that aligns perfectly with Johnson Tiles’ sustainable thinking,” adds Johnson Tiles’ Jason Bridges.
In another positive move for British ceramics, the leading UK tile designer and supplier is also working with Dekiln to explore the possibility of establishing a pilot or demonstration plant in the heart of ‘The Potteries’ – the affectionate and historic name for the Staffordshire city of Stoke-on-Trent and the industry’s heartland.
