Matter Forms
Matter Forms develops bio-alternative materials for the built environment, starting with Oyster[Crete]®, a material made from recycled oyster shells collected from local restaurants and markets. The material transforms this waste stream into refined architectural surfaces, furniture, and interior objects, offering a lower-impact alternative to traditional concrete and stone. Production occurs at a micro-manufacturing pilot within a circular economy hub, with offcuts reintegrated into future batches.
- New Materials
- Clean Technology
- Construction Technology
- Hardware
Funding
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Traditional construction materials like concrete and stone have a significant environmental footprint, relying on energy-intensive extraction and manufacturing processes. The built environment also generates substantial waste streams, including discarded oyster shells from restaurants and markets, which are typically sent to landfill rather than being repurposed.
Solution
Matter Forms develops bio-alternative materials for the built environment, starting with Oyster[Crete]®, a material made from recycled oyster shells collected from local restaurants and markets. The material transforms this waste stream into a refined architectural material suitable for furniture, objects, surfaces, and spatial applications. By utilising the naturally high calcium carbonate content of oyster shells, Oyster[Crete]® offers a lower-impact alternative to traditional concrete and stone while celebrating the raw mineral character of reclaimed resources. The material is developed and fabricated in-house, with production taking place at a micro-manufacturing pilot within a circular economy hub. Circularity is embedded throughout the process, with offcuts reintegrated into future batches and reusable mould systems minimising waste.
Target Audience
Primary customers are architects, designers, and project developers seeking sustainable, circular materials for furniture, interior objects, and architectural surfaces.
Features
- Oyster[Crete]® is a bio-alternative to traditional concrete and stone, made from recycled oyster shells
- Shells are collected from local restaurants and markets, turning a waste stream into a usable material
- The material leverages the naturally high calcium carbonate content of oyster shells for structural and aesthetic properties
- Suitable for a wide range of applications, including architectural surfaces, furniture, and interior objects
- Developed and fabricated in-house, with production at a micro-manufacturing pilot in a circular economy hub
- Incorporates high levels of reclaimed material, including oyster shells and recycled glass, with offcuts reintegrated into future batches
- Research-driven development, originally emerging from academic research at The Bartlett, UCL