The World Is Your Oyster: Circular Solutions from the Sea

by | 29 Jun 2026 | News, Uncategorized

Shells from oysters, mussels, and scallops are often discarded without much consideration. According to Guscio and Malàkio, in France alone, 250,000 tonnes of empty shells are produced annually, ending up in incinerators or landfills. When these shells are disposed of in landfills or returned to the sea without treatment, they can alter local soil composition, water quality, and marine ecosystems. Large accumulations of discarded shells are found in many coastal regions worldwide, contributing to environmental pressures such as unpleasant odours and visual degradation as organic residues decompose. For example, in the Bay of Mount Saint-Michel, because of the oyster waste, in 2024, there was a small outbreak of norovirus (Ouest France). 

 

In recent years, the growth of aquaculture and seafood processing has increased the volume of shell by-products. As a result, there is a growing need to develop innovative, circular approaches to ensure these materials are not treated simply as waste. Increasingly, companies are exploring ways to reuse seashells across a range of industries, including architecture, environmental restoration, and cosmetics. 

 

Here, we wanted to showcase companies that valorise shells in innovative and creative ways.   

Architecture & Furniture

Ostrea is a French company producing high-performance, low-carbon materials for flooring, countertops, and furniture. Their material is composed of approximately 55% crushed shell flakes and 45% mineral binders. It offers a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional ceramics, emitting around 7.5 kg of CO₂ per square metre—approximately five times lower than traditional ceramic alternatives. The material is resin-free and does not require firing, further reducing energy consumption during production.

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Cool Roof develops solutions designed to reduce urban heat in buildings through reflective roofing systems. Their coatings can lower indoor temperatures by up to 8°C by reflecting solar radiation. One of their coating layers incorporates bio-sourced materials, recycled oyster shell powder, contributing to improved thermal performance and sustainability.

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Guisco produces flooring, countertops, and furniture inspired by marine materials. Their products incorporate 50–60% crushed seashells combined with a mineral matrix. Unlike traditional ceramics, their materials do not require firing, resulting in a lower carbon footprint. The company sources shell waste from seafood processing facilities in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

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Malàkio designs decorative and functional objects using recycled seashells and mineral binders. Their materials are primarily composed of locally sourced shell waste, particularly from the Nantes region. The production process relies on air-drying rather than energy-intensive manufacturing methods, supporting their long-term objective of achieving climate-neutral design practices.

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Oyster Reef Restoration

Oyster Heaven is a Dutch company that focuses on restoring degraded oyster reef ecosystems, particularly in the North Sea, where native reefs have largely disappeared. Their approach includes developing engineered reef structures, known as “Mother Reefs,” that provide a foundation for natural ecosystem regeneration. They work closely with local fishing communities to deploy and monitor restoration sites.

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The Oyster Restoration Company is dedicated to restoring native oyster populations across Europe. The organisation raises disease-free oysters and deploys them using a variety of reef-building structures, including modular cages, rock-based foundations, and biodegradable mesh systems. These methods support habitat creation and biodiversity recovery.

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Different types of Companies

Shellmet is a Japanese company who use scallops’ shells and transforms them into helmets. In addition, using bioplastics made from scallop shells as raw material reduces CO₂ emissions by 36%, making the helmet more environmentally friendly.

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Pluriel Coquillage is an Occitan company that processes oyster shells into natural products for agriculture, gardening, animal feed, and water filtration. Their materials are widely used across both professional and domestic applications.

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ChitoCare Beauty is an Icelandic company that develops skincare products based on clinical science and skincare research. The company focuses on products for stressed, over-treated, and dehydrated skin. ChitoCare incorporates chitosan from shrimp shells into skincare products. Their formulations are used in applications related to skin health, wound care, and cosmetic wellness.

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As aquaculture expands globally, the need to find new ways to reuse these shells will become increasingly important. Materials once discarded are now being reimagined as valuable inputs for design, infrastructure, environmental restoration, and consumer products worldwide. Ultimately, finding new ways to reuse these seashells highlights how the industry can transform functional, high-value resources while contributing to both ecological restoration and material innovations across multiple sectors.