ReUpress – producing building blocks from demolition waste

A pilot initiative exploring how concrete demolition waste can be recycled into new building blocks for Ukraine’s circular reconstruction.

The project adapts an existing compression technology to enable the fast production of building blocks from crushed concrete. The team is also assessing whether this technology could be technically and economically viable for local production in Ukraine.

Project team:

Lead — Roman Puchko, Khrystyna Shmahola
Communication – Maryna Naumenko, Yuliia Vyshnevetska
Marketing – Liza Makarytska

Partners:

NETICS B.V.
Eco+Logic

Supported by:

RVO, the Netherlands

Years:

2025-2026

Website:

https://reupress.squarespace.com

Project Inquiry

Large amounts of concrete remain after damaged and destroyed buildings are dismantled following russia’s full-scale invasion. Through ReUpress, we are exploring how this material can be processed and used to produce new building elements.

The idea is to adapt compression technology to produce blocks from crushed concrete demolition waste. This could help return the material to the construction cycle while reducing the need for virgin raw materials.

If the technology proves technically and economically viable, local production of these blocks could become a practical solution for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

About
the Project

Our team is exploring how best to sort and crush concrete demolition waste before it is compressed into building blocks. The resulting blocks are then tested to assess their properties and potential use in different types of construction.

We are also looking at the entire production process — from preparing concrete after demolition to manufacturing the finished blocks. A key focus is on establishing this type of production directly in Ukraine.

This approach could reduce the need to transport concrete over long distances, lower the amount of demolition waste, and enable recycled concrete to be used in new building elements.

Through this initiative, we are not only exploring new ways to reuse concrete demolition waste, but also developing a model for local production of building elements in Ukraine. If the technology proves effective, the model could be scaled and adapted in other regions where large amounts of demolition waste are generated.

Project Impact

We are developing a practical model for producing building blocks from demolition waste that could be used in Ukraine’s reconstruction. This approach can help address large volumes of concrete generated by demolition while reducing the need for virgin raw materials.

Local production could be particularly important for Ukraine, as cities and communities across the country have suffered destruction as a result of russia’s full-scale invasion. Processing concrete closer to where it is generated could reduce the need for transportation and make it possible to reuse the material directly in reconstruction.