Censis Rubliss is a research and craft design agency, acting in the field of fashion/ home accessory and based in La Tremblade (Fr), first oysters'production center in Europe. Focused on bio-sourced materials, geared towards circular economy and thoughtful consumption, the products are handmade out of recovered local industrial bio-wastes, like oysters and mussels shells, and a plant based binder (french origin). They're 100% bio-based, recyclable, renewable, industrially compostable, & local.
Regional
France
La Tremblade, Charente- maritime.
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-10-21
As an individual
First name: Clemence Joséphine Last name: Touzet Gender: Female Nationality: France Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 7 allée des Cormorans Town: La Tremblade Postal code: 17390 Country: France Direct Tel:+33 6 56 68 69 79 E-mail:censisrubliss@gmail.com Website:https://censisrubliss.com/en/home-english/
URL:https://www.instagram.com/censis_rubliss/ Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #researchanddevelopment #circulareconomy #biodesign #biomaterials #sustainable #oysters #fashion #madeinfrance #compostable #recyclable #ecomaterial #handcrafted #innovation #tableware #recovery
URL:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080321623399 Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #researchanddevelopment #circulareconomy #biodesign #biomaterials #sustainable #oysters #fashion #madeinfrance #compostable #recyclable #ecomaterial #handcrafted #innovation #tableware #recovery
My project is about collecting bio-industrial local wastes and turn them into sustainable every day products like lamps, jewels or tableware. I founded Agence Censis Rubliss, which is a product design agency focused on local industrial bio-wastes recovery and bio-based materials researches. But also proposing a virtuous loop from the raw material until the consumption of products.
I am based in La Tremblade, the main center for oysters refining and production in Europe. The agency is acting in the field of fashion accessories (jewelry), product design (lamps, vases, tableware) and soon interior architecture (tiles or panels). Its first products’ range is made out of recycled oysters and mussels shells mixed in a 100% plant-based binder (french origins as well). I use local industrial wastes (oyster shells / mussels), I crush them, grind them and mix them with a fermented corn starch binder (also from France). I create the textures, I design and handcraft the objects with traditional crafts methods.
My will is to reuse the local waste around and propose sustainable every day objects to an affordable price. To make biofabrication more accessible for consumers and users, to standardize innovative materials as fast as possible on the market, and in many fields of consumption; from “the spoon to the city” (Max Bill, «Die gute Form»). To change step by step our daily life, and to sensibilize people about what is possible today.
Recovery
Sustainability
Bio-circular Economy
Local industry Wastes
100% bio-based
After more than 10 years working as an architect in the ever-changing world of construction, I observed the ecological limits of materials, of their production and implementation. The fossils and minerals’crisis motivates me to seek new possibilities. Indeed, the over-exploitation of minerals, oil, metal, but also the use of plastics, present a big danger for landscapes, fauna, flora, and for each of us. These materials are not renewable, nor entirely recyclable. Therefore, it’s urgent to rethink the consumption system. In 2021, I decided to act differently, faster and on my own, to have a direct ecological impact on daily life, with every day products. I banish plastics, chemicals, stones, sand and metal. I’m focused on minimizing the volume of raw materials, and only using renewable and bio- recyclable materials, until the packaging (only cardboard or paper). I come from La Tremblade, it’s naturally that shells appeared to me as a perfect natural treasure, for their impressive aesthetics, and also for their chemical composition (calcium carbonate). Moreover, here they are considered as industrial waste. It’s important to mention that the shells are not coming from the beaches but from restaurants, households or shell farms rubbish. They would be buried or burned, in the same way as other wastes. For me, they replace sand or stone. Then, I mix them with a 100% plant-based binder, made or fermented corn starch. This also comes from France. Being bio-based and containing no toxic additives or plastics from petrochemicals, the created products are recyclable, renewable, industrially compostable, and of course local. Always thinking where the products are coming from, how they are produced, and how they will finish. When products are broken or don’t fit the consumers anymore, they are recycled in new products in my atelier. Exactly like the few little wastes from productions.
My project propose a new approach of bio-based materials, and also a new lifestyle, with a reflection about wastes and products life cycle. Indeed, the recovery and recycling of local bio-wastes into new products give the possibility for people to know exactly where the raw materials are coming from and how they are produced. Otherwise, how they will finish. People participate as well to the loop by sorting their wastes. Then they can appreciate the results, and enjoy unique bio-design to affordable price, handmade in France. Nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything is transformed and transformed again!
The aesthetics of the products is simple and organic. The shells appear like stones in a heterogeneous texture. The new material is soft on skins, and shinny. Due to natural pigments, it could be colorful. This is very impressive for lamps, because the texture is translucent and give a soft, cozy light in the room. It’s important to me to give timeless aspects to the forms I draw, to make the objects more sustainable. I think they are not trendy, and won’t be «has been». They are sober and smart, they could have been done in the past or in the future. And I hope this is the quality of an object to avoid «fast-design», and overconsumption. Beauty and functionality are not enough today. Our society is exposed to other problem to solve, the climate changes. Productions must be considered and minimized, and wastes-recovery a value to be defended. A new characteristic is nowadays necessary, in view of current issues: sustainability. A holistic approach is obligatory, I seek consistency between beautiful, inclusive and sustainable!
Post scriptum: the attached photographs show products which are mainly not on my website. The lamps and tableware are coming in March 2023 out, on the market and online. Earrings and vase are online. Thanks to understanding.
As a consumer and as a construction professional, I was disappointed about material products on the market. We have to stop producing plastics and impoverishing mines and quarries. A lot of alternatives are existing already. We should take the softer decision for the planet, every day, in every situation. I propose a 100% natural products, made in France, and at an affordable price. When the product is broken or doesn’t fit the consumers anymore, they can return it to Agence Censis Rubliss and I recycle it into a new product. This is important for to offer a wide range of everyday objects that are sustainable and local, without being elitist about prices. My desire is to make bio-manufacturing more accessible to users and to standardize innovative materials on the market as quickly as possible. Changing our daily life step by step, and raising awareness of bio-sourced alternatives. We are at the beginning of a new era, that of plastic is obsolete. Moreover, the raw materials I use are known from everybody, especially because they are the base of the main industrial activity in town. People participate to sorte it and bring it to me. They know now, they have the possibility to collect them. It makes them very enthusiastic to discover their waste into earrings, a vase or a lamp.
The citizens and local workers are directly involved because they can collect their shells wastes, and give them directly at my atelier. This is a way to make an efficient selective sorting. Furthermore, they enjoy knowing that they will be recycled into some known products. Also, they can buy it and enjoy it in a new way. The products are made out of their own wastes, they are ecologically virtuous. The traceability is transparent, and the prices are fair.
Today, is still the beginning of this project. It came online first in October 2022, with already finished products. The waste recovery organization is a bit older, and take place only in La Tremblade and the closed surroundings. That’s why, the stakeholders are very local. We are focus on the local industry, which is very special for the region and worldwide famous.
I’m self-taught, I research and make all tests in my ateliers, on my own. I design, collect and produce myself. Furthermore, I studied and read a lot about Biology, biodiversity, chemistry. From my work experiences I had a large knowledge of materials and materials resistance (Physics), and then later I acquired traditional craft skills, such as locksmithing, glassblowing, also about plastic injection and extrusion, and electricity.
But I’m in contact with suppliers and an engineer. We discuss materials’ capacities and techniques. They give me advices or orientations about other possibilities. It’s very important to have scientist point of view, and to share with multidisciplinary professionals. The potentiality of bio design is very big, and this is just the beginning. The perspective lets us dreaming about a positive future.
In a general way, everything is connected, and everything is moving in the same direction. Innovation is a holistic practice, which integrates altruism, empathy, sincerity and transparency. It is an effort which requires time, creativity and strong collaboration to stimulate and rethink our habits: a promising challenge!
The main impact of my project is ecologic. The quality of materials, the good design and the inclusive aspect for the city I propose are important benefits as well . All products are bio-based, but we organized also the loop of wastes. First for the raw materials in town, with industries locals and others partners like restaurants. And secondly in the atelier for the production waste, they are recovered as well to make new article or tests. This is also the fact for sold products which can come back to be melted again. These aspects have an impact on the bio-circular economy of the city, and the quality of life there.
As a consumer and as a construction professional, I was disappointed about material products on the market. We have to stop producing plastics and impoverishing mines and quarries. A lot of alternatives are existing already. We should take the softer decision for the planet, every day, in every situation.
My goal is to banish plastics, chemicals but also stones or sand and using as little metal as possible. This is my unbreakable rules! I’m focused on minimizing the volume of raw materials as well, and only using renewable and recyclable materials, like plant or biowastes. Even for my packaging, which is only made of cardboard. Always think where the products are coming from, how they are produced, and how they will finish.
I am obstinate to propose a 100% natural products, made in France, and at an affordable price. When the product is broken or doesn’t fit the consumers anymore, they can return it to Agence Censis Rubliss and I recycle it into a new product.
My project has many different innovative character:
- Recovering local industrial wastes, and clean places around, with the help of local actors.
- Using 100% bio-based binder.
- Handcrafted in France, with just French raw materials.
- Being circular, and 100% biosourced, recyclable, renewable, industrially compostable, and of course local.
- Recycling them when they present limits into a new product (broken or not suitable anymore).
I do everything myself, I collect shells-rubbish from local restaurants, shellfish industries, or oysters farms. I crushed and mixed them to a 100% plant based binder, and natural pigments to obtain a homogenous paste. According to which kind of products or forms I want, I apply different traditional handcraft techniques. I blow the paste like glass for vases or lamps, I form it and press it like plastics for panels, or I freehand forge it, to get organic forms. I can use it in many fields, I’m able to recycle it and use the leftovers. There is very little waste in the fabrication process. I have no limitation with the material, and this is what I love. Feeling free, having no limits gives me a lot of power, and a very confident mindset.
This project could be transferred everywhere, where bio-wastes are. My wish now is to extend my project to other places and towards other industries. For example, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine(French Region of La Tremblade), we have Cognac, Bordeaux, the Landes and the Basque Country. I’m working now on developing a texture from wine productions’ rubbishes in Cognac and Bordeaux. Grape rests are looking like a brown paste, very interesting materials. Then I’m focused on wood wastes from industrial sawmill from Landes (largest Pine-forest in France), and also the red algae from Basque coast. These are used to produce agar-agar in food and cosmetics industry. Bio-materials made from algae have a lot of chemicals properties, and useable in a lot of way, for new different products like textile, vegan leather, etc... The handcraft methods could be replicated in all the places without issues. Furthermore, it would be a benefit for consumers and locals, but also industries themselves to collect their rubbish, clean places, and to have the possibility to buy or sell their local objects.
This project present global challenges. The possibility of bio-waste recovery is infinite. It’s possible to act in the same way everywhere around the world. Bio-waste from industries, restaurants or household, are something very common. The ecological issues we are experimenting is also global and that’s why everybody, in every geographic context is exposed to find solutions to drive wastes. For me, it is important to mention «bio» wastes, because if plastics or non-renewable materials are recovered, lobbies will continue to produce it, and impoverishing soils, carries and nature. In this way, we are not going to come out of this vicious circle, that we have to come out.
