Design objects made from shards and ash
London-based designer Rosy Napper researched a new type of ceramic material during her studies at Central Saint Martins UAL. The result is a 100% recycled material made from ceramic shards and ash waste: ReCinder.
The special thing about ReCinder is that it is a self-glazing material that can not only be used to make tableware and tiles, but it also has a unique translucent property and can filter out harmful blue light. This makes ReCinder a versatile material.
We wanted to find out more about the resource-saving ceramic material and conducted an interview with Rosy.
Rosy, what motivated you to develop a material like ReCinder?
I have always been interested in the intersection of scientific experimentation, with the concept of circular design and the art of craft. When I discovered the world of sustainable material development in the ceramic industry through the work of Dutch design studio Smogware, I realised this was the route I had been looking for. This led me to complete my BA in Ceramic Design at Central Saint Martins, UAL, and I developed ReCinder while in my final year of the course.
Using ash to glaze ceramics is a technique that has been used for millennia. I had been developing glaze research using waste ash collected from restaurant ovens since 2020, but this was only having a small impact on my work’s carbon footprint. I decided to incorporate the ash into the body, and discovered the great extent to which it can be utilised in the manufacturing of recycled ceramics. Through my research, I found it was possible to develop a translucent variant of the material, and the ReCinder lamps were created in response to this.
How are the ceramic tiles (e.g. for the light objects) joined together?
The ReCinder tiles are joined using deadstock solder from a local electronics company in the South East of England. The solder is still perfectly workable, but has passed its shelf life, so now I upcycle it and use it for joining the ceramic tiles in a similar technique to the production of stained-glass windows.
Is there already a first collection of ReCinder objects that can be purchased?
Currently, it is possible to purchase a ReCinder lamp or table by contacting me directly through my website, with a 6–8 week lead time. ReCinder dinner plates are also available for pre-order through the website of London based homeware shop, the Home of Sustainable Things.
Interview: Anne-Birga Niepelt
Photos: Rosy Napper
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