Repurposed Eggshell Waste into Sustainable Designs

Globally, eggs are a common staple in diets, consumed in large quantities every day. However, this high level of consumption leads to an equal level of waste—specifically, eggshell waste. A 2021 article by Watt Poultry explains that in 2019 alone, around 8.3 million metric tonnes of eggshell waste was generated around the world. Such continuous waste poses environmental challenges, particularly regarding its everyday disposal. Below, we explore some egg-cellent options by brands that have diverted eggshell waste from landfills. These creative upcycling initiatives repurpose eggshells into various products, such as lighting fixtures, table decor, and even building materials.

STUDIO YELLOW DOT

Eggshell Light Decor

Hong Kong-based Studio Yellow Dot launched the 'Hatch' series, a collection that repurposes eggshell waste into diffusers for pendant lighting. They reuse broken eggshells into discs inserted with LED lights. This aims to reduce the high volume of discarded eggshell waste and is also displayed at a design festival. The ceiling pendants and other fixtures have used egg waste sourced from bakeries and households. They claim to use at least 60 waste eggshells per light. Co-founders Dilara Kan and Bodin Hon work with a variety of materials, incorporating sustainable practices in their creations.

(Image credit: Studio Yellow Dot - Eggshell Waste Hatch Series)

YELM OFFICIAL

Eggware & Decor Collection

Indian-led, Netherlands-based Yelm is a circular material research and sustainable design company founded by Midushi Kochhar, a graduate from London. Venturing into green designs and sustainability, Yelm works on research-based wasted materials like food waste, vegetable waste, plant waste, and algae-based bioproducts, for various industries including footwear, decor, and other useful materials. Since 2022, they have started exploring egg waste, using waste eggshells, powdering them, and reusing them in the sustainable 'Eggware' collection of decor items. Eggware is an alternative to ceramic and concrete products, is indistinguishable in design from materials traditionally used. The collection has plates, cutlery, containers, and other decor items like vases. Their design featured at Dutch Design Week and other design shows, presenting their sustainable design and introducing a new age, eco-friendly alternative that is zero waste and does not require new raw materials. The research continues to explore new materials from existing waste in loop circular practices. Egg-ceeding all expectations for planet-friendly materials, Yelm becomes a visionary research studio.

(Image credit: Ylem Official - Eggware Collection)

NATURE SQUARED

Eggshell Waste Wall Tiles

The Swiss and UK-based sustainable decor and furnishing company, Nature Squared, works with various material wastes, like upcycling eggshell waste into tiles and other decor. Presented at Milan Design Week in 2021, these designs are handmade in the Philippines from broken used eggshells, crafted into quality, sturdy tiles. The eggshells were sourced from kitchens and homes to make wall tiles and beautiful subtle-toned sculptural objects.

(Image credit: Nature Squared - Eggshell Waste Wall Tiles)

This sustainable design attempts to reduce the tonnes of this common waste discarded globally. The Nature Squared eggshell waste tiles come in various tones but are made colourful by only using natural dyes that are earth-friendly and completely avoid any toxic materials. Their research into this, termed bio-ceramic material, claims to use at least around 3,000 eggshells for one square meter, emitting less compared to traditional ceramic tiles.

(Image credit: Nature Squared - Eggshell Waste Wall Tiles)

MONOSTUDIO

Bio-Ceramic Tiles

Monostudio Associato, an Italian interior design firm based in Milan, also runs a sustainable research lab. They have created wall tiles from binding waste materials such as eggshells, coffee grounds, and building waste like marble and ceramic. Starting with marble waste from production sites, their research looks towards using sustainable materials in building products for innovative circular reuse. Combining three common waste materials, Monostudio wants to create eco-friendly materials and sustainable design concepts.

(Image credit: Monostudio Associato Bio-Ceramic Wall Tiles)

ATELIER BARB

Egg Waste Cups & Tiles

From Turkey, we have Atelier Barb, a bio-design studio that is nature-friendly, making responsible products and artistic objects. Primarily repurposing egg waste and artichoke waste into wall tiles like a biomaterial for tiles, vases, little candle holders, and decor items, including their classic eggware collection. The repurposed Egg-ware collection, made from discarded eggshells, features an eggshell holder that can be seen as a pun-intended holder made from egg waste.

(Image credit: Atelier Barb Eggshell Waste Eggcups Collection)

The adorable egg cups are a responsible creation that diverts waste. Each egg cup is said to be made from at least 12 eggshells. Their artichoke waste and eggshell waste innovations repurpose them into one-of-a-kind, different shapes of functional products that are super attractive and all handmade, claiming to use no industrial machines like the traditional methods that consume more resources. Atelier Barb aims to carve out a space in sustainable design, moving away from toxic, chemical materials to create a futuristic, environmentally-friendly design concept.

(Image credit: Atelier Barb Artichoke Waste Holder and Bio-Binder Tiles)

MANUFACTURA

3D Printed Eggshell Walls

Based in Mexico, Manufactura is a design studio working on sustainable projects like 3D printed walls made from discarded eggshells. They create bio-ceramic cement-like textures for walls using a 3D printer, converting food waste into construction materials as strong, geometrically shaped blocks. This award-winning design combines technological innovation with sustainable practices, extending their work to include seafood shell waste reused into bricks, maximizing technology for sustainable purposes.

(Image credit: Manufactura Mexico - 3D Printed Bio-Ceramic Wall)

The repurposing of eggshell waste into upcycled products transforms these often overlooked remnants into valuable items, aiming to reduce landfill waste. In the realm of upcycled products, turning what was once waste into eco-conscious products creates a loop of circular products infused with innovation and technology, helping to reduce environmental waste.