Glass is a material that everyone knows. How to make it more sustainable? One answer comes from an unlikely material: mussel shells.
Glass is on the rise, it is made from the basic mixture of silica sand, sodium and calcium, it can be recycled countless times and in packaging it is an alternative to plastic. To give you an idea, the UN named this year 2022 the International Year of Glass. And of course, this material also brings upcycling opportunities. Bureau de Change architects and London-based designer Lulu Harrison are exploring the potential of the quagga mussel. Mussel shells mixed with sand and wood waste are the basis of a glass recipe they called Thames Glass.
Quagga mussels
These freshwater mussels often clog water pipes, becoming a problem for the local water company, Thames Water – hence the name of the glass. Instead of filling landfills, these shells are now in glass tile with a design inspired by chimneys from ceramic maker Royal Doulton.
Initially they intend to use these tiles in construction projects, but they also want to use them in bottles and cups in the future. Can you imagine one day having upcycled glass packaging?
These are some of the prototypes of glass cups made with mussel shells
Besides glass, what else can be done with shells?
Friends Clare and Pippa, from the UK, produce plates with mussel and oyster shells from a restaurant and cement scraps. Customers love knowing that they are buying products with the shells as many also frequent the restaurant, meaning, in addition to the sustainable appeal, it has all the history and local connection behind it.
Rawr dishes made with shells and cement scraps
And since the sky is the limit, what other materials can we use to make sustainable utensils? If your company has shells or other waste and wants to turn it into value-added products, talk to Upcycling Solutions and let’s turn the problem into a solution together!
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