As global warming nears breaking point, consumers around the world are becoming more and more conscious. The shift in behaviour towards conscious consumption has meant more people are shopping with sustainability and social responsibility at the front of mind. As consumers worldwide become increasingly aware of how their retail choices impact the world in which they live, the demand for more sustainable products is rocketing.
As a result, sustainable product sales have increased by almost 20% over the last five years, according to a study by Nielsen. And while pineapple, cork and mushroom fibres are being developed in labs the world over, there’s one age-old material that already boasts seriously green credentials: porcelain.
Vegan, durable and earth-friendly, porcelain is considered sustainable for a number of reasons. Firstly, the super-dense material is particularly hard-wearing. Destined to enjoy a long life, porcelain pieces are unlikely to be damaged through natural causes, such as very high or low temperatures, and is resistant to stains.
In addition, porcelain boasts a relatively small carbon footprint, as all the raw materials used to make it – clay, silica and flint – are completely natural and widely available across the world. Therefore, the creation of porcelain does not require materials be flown from one side of the world to the other. The manufacturing process of porcelain also means very little waste is produced, and all of the raw materials can be recycled.
It also makes a wonderful, cruelty-free alternative to bone china, which uses animal bone ash. Fine, delicate and versatile it’s the perfect material to craft everything from tableware to jewelry, and tiles to vases.
