NINE TONNES of oyster shells collected from diners at a Hong Kong hotel have been upcycled into a sustainable building material thanks to cooperation with a local cement company.
For more than 12 months, the former homes of molluscs slurped up by guests at Eaton HK and The Langham, Hong Kong have been converted into an alternative to cement to an effort started by Great Eagle Group, the parent company of the two hotels.
Some 3,300 tonnes of oyster are imported to Hong Kong each year, and the scheme prevents waste and adds to the hotels’ sustainability efforts.
Since the properties teamed up with Green Island Cement in March 2023, the Oyster Shell Upcycling Pilot Program has converted shells for use across all scales of buildings and construction work.
“We brought together likeminded partners to repurpose oyster shells as a sustainable raw material alternative for cement production. Our goal is to encourage more hotels and restaurants to participate, diverting more discarded oyster shells from landfills through upcycling,” Amie Lai Gor, general manager of sustainability at Great Eagle Holdings, was quoted by Global Cement News as saying.
Backgrounder… The Trend – Upcycling
In one example of the scheme, Guests at Eaton HK’s buffets are encouraged to place the used shells onto a designated dish to prevent them being mixed with other food waste. The shells are then cleaned and stored in boxes for collection by Green Island Cement.
Quoting a study by the cement company, a spokesperson for Eaton HK said: “Oyster shells are a suitable material to replace limestone for the manufacturing of cement clinker. In terms of chemical composition, oyster shells have a usual calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content equivalent to 91 per cent of that in limestone.
“Oysters have a much shorter growing cycle of four to five years, compared to the millions of years required for the geological formation of limestone. The use of discarded oyster shells as the source of calcium carbonate can reduce environmental degradation induced by limestone mining, which makes oyster shells a more sustainable and renewable resource.
“Overall, the program showcases the potential for clean recycling and effective local industrial collaboration to drive eco-friendly construction practices.”
The shell upcycling trend has also prised open creative opportunities for the hotels’ F&B crews. A new cocktail has been launched by Eaton HK’s Terrible Baby bar called The Coastal Garden served in a glass holder made from cement containing used oyster shells.
From the same material, teams have designed refillable Soy Wax Candle in collaboration with a local brand, The Blomstre. Each guest room will also have a Compendium Cube showing info for guests made from the cement alternative and telling the story of the project.
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A press conference highlighting the results of the Oyster Shell Upcycling Pilot Program was held last week officiated by Harvey Thompson, General Manager of Eaton HK and Managing Director of Eaton Workshop; Amie Lai, General Manager, Sustainability at Great Eagle Holdings; Raymond Wai Man Cheung, Division Manager, Operations and Environmental Business at Green Island Cement, and Sherona Shng, Managing Director of The Langham, Hong Kong and Regional Vice President – Operations, Asia of Langham Hospitality Group.
Interested industry representatives can get in touch with Green Island Cement regarding the ShellCem project via their online form.
Main picture… two of the items at Eaton HK made from upcycled oyster shells: a guest room information cube and a refillable candle holder
