The project ‘BLOCOYSTER – Blocos Sustentáveis com a Incorporação de Resíduos de Aquicultura’ won the sixth edition of the Circular Seas competition, in the “Research Centres” category, this January. The project aims to reduce the pollution caused by aquaculture waste by reusing oyster shells to produce building blocks. The project involves researchers from the following Técnico research units: Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Center for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA) and Center for Innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture (CiTUA).

The project, which began in March and will run for a year, contributes to a sustainable blue economy by reducing the pollution caused to the environment by aquaculture waste (controlled breeding of aquatic organisms). Using oyster shells to produce building blocks, the project develops a solution using local materials that increases the value chain and reduces the carbon footprint. It promotes circularity between economic sectors, using shellfish waste from the maritime sector to create new products in the construction sector.

Inês Flores-Colen, a professor at Técnico, a researcher at CERIS and coordinator of BLOCOYSTER, explains that the award of seven thousand euros “was essential because it allows us to explore yet another potential use of oyster shell – the production of more sustainable concrete blocks”. In addition to professors and PhD researchers, the BLOCOYSTER team also includes three PhD students and two master’s students.

The Circular Seas is an Iberian initiative launched by the Coca-Cola company in partnership with the League for the Protection of Nature (LPN), with the aim of supporting the development of innovative solutions and technologies that promote the circular economy and reduce waste in seas, oceans and rivers.