Shashank started his journey as a postgraduate student at National Institute of Design (NID) to find a universal solution regarding the prodigious waste of glaze-fired ceramic rejects at industries. The need to work on this situation was realized during NID’s student industrial visit to a ceramic manufacturing cluster of factories. His inquiry started by understanding what is considered to be ‘waste’ in a human society, the secondary research involved diving deeper into the various approaches adapted in different parts of the world to address various challenges to keep waste in check. The focus was then laid on how various designers, artists and industries around the world approached ceramic waste to address the situation. A very diverse set of solutions were found from the approach, but not universal enough to be able to readily adapt.
To be fully aware of the on-ground scenario a first-hand knowledge was required and an experience of the situation at Indian production units. Thus began the journey of primary research through extensive interactions with stakeholders of the ceramic manufacturing cluster in Gujarat. Many vital changes were observed from the secondary research and the on-ground scenario. The waste was now nowhere to be seen on the streets but was accumulated within walled landfills, collected since almost five decades of industrial production.
After enough understanding about the material and scenario hands-on tests with materials were carried out from 10% waste to 90%, compositions were tried in various production methods. After hundreds of tests high quality prototypes were developed with 70% recycled content and exhibited at Makers Faire at NID-Gandhinagar to offer potential users to interact with the prototypes and gauge the market potential for this innovation.
On receiving a very enthusiastic response from different stakeholders the project was then turned into a commercial venture ‘Earth Tatva’. The brand now offers TatvaMix, pugged clay containing 45% recycled content and ready-to-use casting slip containing 60% recycled content to studio potters, artists, students and educational institutes to use in their various projects. Makers can use it for various processes like throwing, hand-building, 3D printing and casting for firing in the range of 1180 °C to 1260 °C . TatvaMix can also be used for raku firing. The material can be used with almost any existing glazes and is certified to be microwave safe for functional wares.
As more and more makers adopt using TatvaMix for their creations we as a community can together create a huge impact of saving natural resources by reducing mining by up to 60%. Doing more and better with less.