SHELLMET

About the Work Background: Although Scallops are the most commonly eaten shellfish in Japan, they are also the most discarded shellfish. Hokkaido's Sarufutsu Village is home to the largest scallop catch in the country. In 2021, exporters discarded approximately 40,000 tons of shells on the shoreline. Experts point out not only the challenge of securing a place to deposit shells, but also an environmental preservation issue as piles of shells omit a foul odor, and cause groundwater contamination from heavy metals contained in the remains. We aimed to transform discarded shells into a new resource to empower the community. Impact: Since launch, it has gained exposure in 887 media outlets in 34 countries with an estimated reach of 5.6 billion people. SHELLMET has spread beyond the community of Sarufutsu Village and has become popular throughout Japan. In the first two months, SHELLMET recorded 1,397% ($37,000+) of its sales target. Already in the first year, more than 24 tons of discarded shells are expected to be recycled. Besides, the innovation created from discarded shells was highly evaluated, and adopted as the official disaster prevention helmet for the sustainability-themed 2025 Osaka Expo. It has also been exhibited overseas at MAAT in Portugal and National Museum of Singapore. This material, a plastic alternative, is gaining global attention, with collaborations from over 24 brands. Already, it is being used not only in buildings but also in various applications such as bag buttons for the apparel brand Camper, clasps for gas cylinders by Air Water, a company providing energy solutions, and in-flight items by ANA, a major Japanese airline. By transforming scallop shells from waste into a new resource, we have not only solved the environmental issues of Sarufutsu Village but also created a new source of income.