OUR TILES
01 Cyalith
Cyalith is a sustainable, bio-based alternative to decorative ceramic tiles. It has a bioinspired structure similar to sea shells, being comprised of about 95% naturally occurring calcium carbonate and a biopolymer binder. The biopolymer is obtained from photosynthetic [micro]algae - the slime that grows on ponds. We aim to source the biopolymer as a waste product from 3rd generation biofuels production or other algae-based biomanufacturing. For biofuels production, algae is grown before all the fats and oils are harvested to turn into biodiesel - and our biopolymer is a significant by product from that process. Therefore, out tiles could support algae biofuels\biomanufacturing by utilising and adding value to what would otherwise be a low value by product.
02 Fabalith
Fabalith is another sustainable, bio-based alternative to decorative ceramic tiles. It also has a structure similar to sea shells, being comprised of about 95% naturally occurring calcium carbonate and a biopolymer binder. The biopolymer is obtained from aquafaba - the waste water most people throw away when they drain a can of chickpeas. Aquafaba can be used as an egg white alternative. Egg whites were historically used as a glue/ binder, we thought aquafaba could also have these properties - and we were right.
We hope to source our aquafaba from large chickpea factories, which currently have to pay to get it’s aquafaba treated to allow for safe disposal.
03 STARcrete
STARcrete is a sustainable, bio-based alternative to concrete - however concrete is very difficult to displace due to its low cost - meaning our current target application is for decorative wall panelling (brick slips or tiles). StarCrete uses waste inorganic aggregates such as crushed granite, bonded together by a starch-based binder from potatoes.
This material may be used by NASA for building future habitats on the moon and Mars so we are still researching it's possibilities!
04 Cyashell
Cyashell is an adaption of Cyalith made with crushed seashell's this gives the tiles a wonderful texture. The seashells are a low value by-product from the food industry. The biopolymer used to bind the material is obtained from photosynthetic [micro]algae - the slime that grows on ponds. We hope to source the biopolymer as a waste product from 3rd generation biofuels production or other algae-based biomanufacturing. For biofuels production, algae is grown before all the fats and oils are harvested to turn into biodiesel - and our biopolymer is a significant by product from that process. Therefore, out tiles could support algae biofuels\biomanufacturing by utilising and adding value to what would otherwise be a low value by product.