Shortlisted as ‘Young Ideas’

Unwasted is a material-based design project that turns local waste like eggshells, straw, ceramic dust, and glass into handcrafted tiles made of 65 – 100% waste. The design solution addresses the urgent challenges of mounting landfill volumes and the depletion of virgin materials in ceramics and construction.

Through partnerships with actors across scales from a nearby wheat farm to one of Denmark’s largest food producers, Unwasted sources its materials locally and grounds its practice in real-world relevance. The result is not just a product, but a process rooted in context, care, and craft.

More than a surface finish, each tile tells a story. With textured glazes and rich imperfections, they offer an alternative to sterile architecture inviting emotional connection and reinforcing the value of what already exists. Unwasted reframes waste as potential and beauty as a lived, material experience.