Tiles made from fish scales

The non-toxic tiles are made from the fishing industry’s sustainable biowaste

Spotted: The ceramic tiles market is project to be worth $210.3 billion (approximately €204.7 billion) by 2031. But despite their growing popularity, tiles remain a significant contributor to ozone depletion and global warming, with one ceramic plant releasing 15.89 kilogrammes of CO2 equivalent for each square metre of ceramic tile produced.

Ocean-friendly Scalite is a new interior stone product made from fish scales, which serves as a sustainable alternative to ceramic-based tiles. Neither eaten nor used, fish scales are a constant waste by-product of the fishing industry. French startup, Scale, takes the leftover scales, extracts the naturally occurring biopolymer and minerals, grinds them together, and then presses the material into sheets.

No glues, plastics, or resins are added, and natural dies are used to create the current range of seven standard colours. The tiles are independently certified as free from volatile organic compounds. Bespoke colours and sizes are available upon request. Easy to clean, the company envisions the tiles becoming standard in any area of interior design, from home use to hospitals, offices, and retail environments.

Waste produced in the manufacture of the tiles is then reworked back into the production process. And when the tiles are no longer needed, they can be recycled, creating a wholly circular manufacturing process. The company also works closely with local and regional fisheries to ensure a sustainable waste stream that minimises unnecessary transport-related emissions.

Scale’s new material reduces unnecessary aquatic waste and, according to the company, is a stone for the “construction of the new sustainable world to come”.

Springwise has also spotted tiles made from waste eggshells, and crab shells turned into a replacement chemical for myriad manufacturing processes.

Written By: Keely Khoury