Scalite

100% natural stone-like material made entirely from fish scales, a by-product of the fishing industry. The scales are collected in France from sustainably managed stocks of sardines or salmons. The sardines are caught in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Brittany and the salmon scales come from the fish bred in the fresh waters of Scotland and Norway. With the company’s patented process, the company extracts the biopolymer from the scales and is recombined with the mineral of the scales. The process produces a stone-like material that is harmless to the environment. After the scales are collected, they are reduced to a fine powder and combined with the biopolymer. The material is then produced through a compression process to form sheets. The material contains no chemical additives, plastic or artificial glue and is VOC and formaldehyde free. It has good fire resistance (European level M1) and scratch resistance and similar mechanical properties to MDF and concrete. The company can recycle its production waste into new material and will collect and recycle post-consumer waste when possible. The material was designed to be ocean-friendly and will degrade rapidly in a marine environment. The manufacturing process requires low energy and water consumption. The material can be bonded using its own resin for glue-less bonding. It can be further processed using conventional wood tooling such as saws, spindles, CNC, and sanding machines. There are currently four colors available, but many different colors and patterns can be produced. The material is available in various dimensions and finishes including matte, satin and glossy. The maximum standard dimensions are 300 x 300 mm (11.8 x 11.8 in) in a thickness from 8 to 20 mm (0.31 to 0.79 mm). Each tile has a unique stone-like pattern. It is further protected with a clear lacquer or varnish. It is considered non-flammable (Norm NF EN ISO 11925-2) and has also been awarded the solar impulse label for future sustainable solutions. Applications include interior decoration for residential and commercial spaces.