Stone material with waste produced by fishing and not yet recycled: its scales. In the Basque Country, Erik de Laurens has just found a new use for these obsolete materials. He invented a new material similar to stone but made from fish scales: Scalite.
The idea
In the Basque Country, several factories began to close due to the economic crisis, a loss of industrial know-how. In an attempt to rescue this know-how, Erik de Laurens, who at the time was completing his master’s degree in product design at the Royal College of Art in London, invented a new material.
It all started with a simple idea: fish scales have been considered garbage for decades. But they had unsuspected power that needed to be tapped. He experimented with several formulas and invented Scalite, the material with which he makes glasses and bowls. Erik then presented his project to a relative, his cousin Edouard de Dreuzy, and together they started the adventure by founding the company Scale.
How it works
Fish scales are intrinsically composed of two distinct phases: one organic and one mineral. Collagen is extracted from the organic phase, which will serve as a biopolymeric binder when mixed again with the mineral part. The latter is obtained from the remains of scales. After being mixed, the two parts form the base of the material, which comes in the form of stones.
These stones are then pressed into slabs of various sizes. This material is manufactured without additives, chemicals or binders other than flake derivatives. The final material obtained is therefore a product without volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and made 100% with fish scales.
Uses of this stone-like material
Fish scale stone has a density of approximately 1.4 g/cm³ and a rough stone appearance.
It can be used in wall coverings, furniture, displays and other decorative objects.
It is marketed in six different colors, all based on natural dyes. The company can manufacture other customized colors according to the customer’s needs.
Scalite is already on the market. It is sustainable and 100% recyclable, with fireproof properties. These features make it suitable for use in public places.
Scalite needs the same tools as woodworking and does not require any special knowledge.