Towards an environmentally just and socially equitable brick industry in South Asia: An overview of ICIMOD's interventions in the brick sector

A clean brick sector is characterized by lower emissions, energy efficient technologies, and good working conditions free of child labour. Since 2013, our Air Pollution Solutions team has been working to improve air quality by helping brick kilns reduce black carbon and other emissions through technological, social, and policy interventions. The zig-zag technology we promote reduces coal consumption by 20% and produces cost-efficient, better-quality bricks, with significantly lower emissions. The technology has gained popularity among brick kiln owners in South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. We have also been promoting the adoption of best practices and solutions – piloting the integration of socioeconomic, gender, and equity perspectives – to make the South Asian brick sector cleaner, socially equitable, and more sustainable. This document outlines the approach and the journey.