Dhaka: In China's renowned porcelain capital, Jingdezhen, discarded ceramics are being transformed into new products, reviving a centuries-old tradition of reuse while promoting greener development.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the brand XUN, which translates to 'recycling,' collects broken porcelain to sort, crush, and purify it before reformulating and firing it into vases, planters, tableware, and other products. Lan Lan, owner and co-partner, stated that the recycled pieces are safe and durable, retaining porcelain particles that give finished products a unique appearance.
XUN also employs sand-mold 3D printing technology to create larger decorative items. These products have been showcased at the China International Import Expo and Canton Fair, enjoying popularity in European and American markets.
Historically, Jingdezhen has reused ceramic waste for centuries, utilizing broken porcelain, spent saggers, and damaged kiln bricks to fill waterways, raise land, and construct walls and foundations. Ceramic waste was also used beneath roads to facilitate rainwater drainage into underground channels. By 1990, the city had more than 90,000 meters of sewers, with over 6,000 meters of arched channels built using discarded kiln bricks. A drainage channel constructed in 1914 remains in use today.
Jingdezhen's Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July, marking China's 61st World Heritage site. Despite this recognition, the city produces up to 90,000 tonnes of porcelain waste annually, much of which is either dumped or buried. Zhang Jingjing, vice president of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, highlighted recycling as the most effective method to mitigate the environmental impact.
Businesses such as Yi Design are exploring new applications, including permeable bricks containing over 90 percent recycled porcelain, suitable for 'sponge city' projects. This innovative product earned an iF Design Gold Award in 2022.
In 2024, Jingdezhen initiated a 'zero-waste city' program, encouraging ceramic producers to minimize waste through technology and develop higher-value applications for discarded porcelain. Lan Lan expressed hope that every discarded piece will eventually find a new purpose, emphasizing, 'Nothing is truly discarded. It's simply waiting for its next form.'