OSTRA - From Waste to ResourceJADE ECHARD

The pressure of climate change is placing incredible stress on our finite resources and ecosystems. While demand for resources soar, finding new sources of supply is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive.

Around 430 billion tons of oysters are harvested each year. Their shells represent more than 70% of their weight, resulting in tons of shell waste. Most of it is untreated or dumped in landfill where it rots, releasing methane (a greenhouse gas). At the same time, they contain one of the most valuable components used in many industries but usually mined: Calcium Carbonate.

By exploring the potential for transformation of this organic waste - thanks to an ancient Roman recipe for Concrete - OSTRA aims to rethink oyster shells as a valuable, sustainable and local resource of biomaterial by developing a range of products in the context of a circular economy. In doing so, the project helps to reduce the pollution load to the environment while also reducing production and transport costs and displacing harmful or extracted materials.

OSTRA is an alternative material and a system for critically engaging with a complete supply chain. The project involves local communities, creating a network of people (farmers, restauranteurs as material suppliers, scientists, designers, and so on) around waste oyster shells. I am currently developing the material in collaboration with Dr Michael Cattell, a specialist in dental technology and biomaterials at the Institute of Dentistry - Queen Mary University of London. From this research, I have developed a tableware range made from oyster shell material which can be used by the same restaurants from which the shells were originally sourced.

CONTACT :

Jade Echard

Email : jade@echard-design.com

Phone : +33606924020

linkedin.com/in/jade-echard-0422a414b/

@jade.echard

To know more about my process, please click in this link : https://youtu.be/WVAjiAsD0ks?list=UUc51yo0mx9lfUfvu4To6KYw

is the first collection of tableware from the OSTRA project. It’s made of wasted oyster shells with an ancient Roman Marine Concrete recipe and inspired by the seaside landscape and its pure lines.

is the second collection of tableware from the OSTRA project made of wasted oyster shells. This collection is inspired by the organic shape of the oyster shell and the tide of the water that allows them to grow.