Ostrea manufactures a high-performance, low-carbon mineral material made from recycled French seashells, designed for flooring, countertops, and furniture. The material offers natural stone-like durability without resin or firing, positioning itself as a sustainable alternative to ceramic and quarried stone. It is produced in France and distributed through a network of kitchen and marble specialists across the country.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
In France, approximately 250,000 tonnes of shells are landfilled each year, contributing to waste and carbon emissions. Traditional ceramic and natural stone materials require energy-intensive firing or quarrying processes, resulting in high CO₂ emissions and environmental degradation.
Solution
Ostrea transforms recycled oyster and other seashell waste from French coasts into a premium mineral material for floors, worktops, and furniture. The material is produced without resin or firing, using a 30-day curing process that achieves natural stone-like performance characteristics including resistance to impact, water, UV, frost, fire, and stains. With 7.5 kg of CO₂ emissions per square meter—five times less than traditional ceramic—Ostrea offers a low-carbon alternative that maintains the aesthetic and tactile qualities of marble. The material is fully designed, sourced, and manufactured in France, supporting a circular economy model through short supply chains.
Target Audience
Primary customers are kitchen showrooms, marble fabricators, architects, and interior designers seeking sustainable, high-performance materials for residential and commercial projects including restaurants, offices, and bathrooms.
Features
- Composition of recycled shells sourced mainly from Arcachon basin, Brittany, and Normandy coasts
- Production process without resin or firing, using a 30-day natural curing method
- Technical performance comparable to natural stone: resistant to shocks, water, UV, frost, fire, and stains
- Mineral surface with a cool, marble-like touch suitable for high-traffic public spaces
- Available formats for flooring tiles, worktop slabs, and furniture tabletops
- 100% French design, sourcing, and manufacturing in a facility near Rennes
- Distribution network of kitchen specialists and marble workshops across France, Belgium, and Switzerland