Wed Sep 25 08:54:19 UTC 2024: ## London Architect Develops Sustainable Building Material From Discarded Oyster Shells
**London, UK** – A London-based architect and designer, Mooka Srisurayotin, has developed a groundbreaking new sustainable building material called Oyster[Crete], made entirely from discarded oyster shells. The innovative material aims to reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint, a sector responsible for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions.
Srisurayotin, founder of interdisciplinary design studio Matter Forms, was inspired by the sheer volume of oyster shells discarded by East London restaurants, reaching up to 5,000 shells per day. Recognizing the potential of these shells, which share a chemical composition with limestone, she embarked on a research project to create a bio-alternative to traditional concrete.
The resulting Oyster[Crete] is a natural, eco-friendly material composed primarily of 80% oyster shells, supplemented with sand and clay. The material offers a significant environmental advantage over cement, which contributes to approximately 6% of global CO2 emissions through its production process.
“We combine the oyster shells into an Oyster[Crete] mix, and all the components within this material are natural,” explained Srisurayotin. “It’s a fully circular process. We designed this tray so it can go back into the restaurants, and they can serve oysters on a tray.”
While currently focusing on smaller applications like oyster trays, Srisurayotin envisions using Oyster[Crete] for larger-scale building projects in the future. This innovative material holds the potential to significantly reduce the construction industry’s environmental impact while providing a unique and sustainable alternative to conventional building materials.
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