Rosy Napper

ReCinder, made from waste ash and discarded ceramic, is possibly one of the only 100% recycled ceramic materials currently available on the market that is capable of translucency.

Here the extent of the material's translucent properties when using waste porcelain in the body is shown through a sample.

I make objects with a function in the hopes to increase their longevity, such as this handcrafted lamp made from recycled ReCinder tiles and upcycled solder that has been diverted from landfill.

The material’s aesthetic potential can differ greatly from colour to surface texture depending on the source of the waste, shown evidently through this collection of tiles made from a range of cracked and recycled buff, terracotta and porcelain pots.

ReCinder does not require traditional ceramic materials in order to be glazed, as the ash in the material reacts with water making it 'self-glazing'.

This further cuts down the use of finite raw materials and minerals in its production.

Perhaps ReCinder's most exciting attribute is its ability to filter blue light, while letting almost every other colour of light pass through.

Blue light has been linked to sleep cycle disruption and even in extreme cases macular degeneration. Blue light is present in many forms of lighting even when you cannot see it, such as in white light bulbs commonly found both in homes and public spaces.

ReCinder may be a promising start for future low-tech and waste based solutions to reduce our exposure to blue light both in domestic and public lighting settings.

Waste ash poses a huge threat to the environment if not disposed of correctly, due to its caustic nature.

Recycling ash into ReCinder tiles ensures it does not leach into waterways, while simultaneously replacing some of the environmentally damaging mined materials traditionally used in ceramics.