In a world that’s becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of our choices, innovation is thriving in unexpected places. Granbyware, a project hailing from Liverpool, UK, is a shining example of how creativity can transform waste into something both beautiful and sustainable.
Launched on Kickstarter, this initiative successfully raised funds and garnered the support of backers who believe in the power of recycled materials.
Turning Trash into Treasure
Granbyware is a range of exquisite everyday dinnerware crafted entirely from 100% recycled materials. The creators behind this project have taken on a remarkable challenge – to breathe new life into waste destined for landfills.
They collect crushed glass, old tiles, factory sludge, and various other discarded materials and, through meticulous craftsmanship, create the world’s first 100% recycled ceramic tableware.
The Range: Beauty in Simplicity
Granbyware’s product line encompasses everything you need to set a delightful table. Each piece is thoughtfully designed, handcrafted, and made to be used every day. Whether you’re serving up a homecooked meal on a big plate, enjoying a slice of cake on a small plate, or sipping coffee from a mug, Granbyware offers versatile options.
There are also big and small bowls for pasta, soup, salad, and snacks. The best part? They’re all 100% food, dishwasher, and microwave-safe.
Materials Matter: A Deep Dive into Recycling
The heart of Granbyware lies in its innovative approach to materials. The creators embarked on a journey of ceramic chemistry and waste management, analyzing the core components of traditional ceramics and finding substitutes from industrial and consumer waste. By collaborating with specialist waste management companies, they identified a range of waste streams that could be harnessed for producing ceramics, including everything from incinerated sewage waste ash to recycled car battery compounds.
The significance of this endeavour cannot be understated. In the UK alone, millions of tons of ceramic, glass, and stone waste end up in landfills annually. By repurposing these materials, Granbyware aims to combat this wasteful cycle and reduce the need for new resource extraction, such as clay mining, which also has its environmental drawbacks.
The Recipe: Transforming Waste into Art
After extensive testing and trials, Granbyware developed a process that enables them to create beautiful, durable ceramic dinnerware from a handful of core waste streams. These include industrial clay waste, recycled glass, quarry waste, recycled refractory bricks, and fired ceramic waste.
The challenge of working with varied waste materials is met with precision – each batch is chemically tested and adjusted accordingly, ensuring consistency and reliability.
Colours and Finish: Celebrating Imperfections
Granbyware breaks free from the traditional ceramics supply chain, which seeks uniformity and smooth surfaces. Instead, it embraces the unique textures and finishes that recycled materials offer. The result is a range of products with speckles and freckles, showcasing the charm of impurities.
The insides of the pieces boast deep glazes, while the exteriors are left raw and unglazed to reveal the texture and grain of the recycled clay body.
Scaling Up for Impact
The Kickstarter campaign is essential for Granbyware’s vision to come to life. Producing these recycled ceramics at scale requires sourcing large quantities of materials and mixing them consistently off-site. Scaling up ensures that the impact on waste reduction and resource conservation is significant.
Who Are the Creators?
Granbyware is the brainchild of Granby Workshop, a Liverpool-based team with a passion for crafting playful, everyday objects designed to be enjoyed. Their journey began by using rubble from neighbourhood house renovations to create fittings and fixtures, and their previous Kickstarter campaign, “Splatware,” allowed them to develop their first tableware pieces.
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