Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Newsroom
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... 2022
  4. arrow_forward_ios 09
  5. arrow_forward_ios Green houses made from glass waste

Green houses made from glass waste

28 September 2022

A recyclable ceramic material made from glass powder promises to reduce the carbon footprint of your bathroom, kitchen and roof.

Photo of bathroom with white tiles

The bathroom of the future could have tiles made from the waste from glass recycling. Photo: Adobe Stock Images.

A research team led by Dr Stefan Lie and Associate Professor Tim Schork, from the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, have invented a new construction material that takes glass waste that can be fired to produce a ceramic for tiles or wall cladding.

The promising innovation was awarded first place in the UTS Research Translation Competition.

“The traditional ceramics used in tiles and bricks are made from clay, earth or cement. They can’t be easily recycled and have a high carbon footprint,” says Dr Lie.

“We’ve found the glass powder left over from the recycling process, which normally goes to landfill, is the perfect material for creating a new kind of glass ceramic that is durable, waterproof and 100% recyclable.”

“It has the added benefit of becoming waterproof when fired at a much lower temperature than traditional ceramics, further saving on the energy embodied in its production.”

The UTS academics will take the $75,000 prize money to further develop their invention, patent protect it and find new commercial partners to take their ceramic to market.

Glass powder ... is the perfect material for creating a new kind of glass ceramic that is durable, waterproof and 100% recyclable.
- Dr Stefan Lie

Second prize in the Research Translation Competition went to an affordable rapid diagnostic test for bowel cancer developed by Associate Professor Charles Cranfield from the Faculty of Science.

Photo of RTC winners

The diagnostic identifies an enzyme phospholipase A2 that is correlated with the presence of bowel cancer and has a lower false positive rate than the traditional blood screening techniques used for bowel cancer.

“Every year, the Research Translation Competition uncovers hidden gems of innovation that are on the brink of commercial production and almost ready to change our lives,"  says Professor Kate McGrath, UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

"Congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition.”

Share
Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on LinkedIn
Back to Technology and design

Related News

  • RTC winning team
    Sharp eye for research translation
  • an industrial robot 3D prints one of the SR2 components
    3D-printed air: a cool solution to tackle global warming

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility