Solution: Material produced from scallop shells. Owner: ESITC Caen and Alkern. Circular Strategy: Recycling.
Description
The innovation uses the shell of scallops that have been consumed. The shells are crushed into granules and can then be used as resistant, and permeable concrete blocks. This output has many usages in cities such as building sidewalks, pedestrian areas, and school playgrounds.
The solution also fights the urban heat island effect as the Pavé COQUILLAGE has a white colour. This reflects light, meaning that less heat is stored by pavements.
Location
Present throughout France.
Scale
54 production sites.
Potential circular economy impact
Non-renewable granules are partly replaced by crushed shell waste. This reduces the need to extract and use new material for construction. This allows the recovery of scallop waste being diverted from landfill.
What’s involved?
People: Engineering team.
Resources: Waste from scallop shells.
Technology: Machines to crush the shells and to compress them into concrete blocks; website.
Implementation: Industrialised by ALKEN in France.