These “Sea Coasters,” from a Maine company called EcoSeaTile, were once lobsters, mussels, scallops and oysters. Ordinarily, once these shellfish have been processed, their shells end up in landfills. But EcoSeaTile instead cleans the shells at its workshop in Kennebunk, then dries and crushes them before setting them in an epoxy resin for the coasters and other products.
The shells may also be given new life as drawer knobs, frames, switch and outlet covers, jewelry, tiles (which meet LEED standards for environmentally friendly building materials), travel mugs, wine stoppers and more. The company also recycles scrap metals such as copper, aluminum, brass and titanium to use in its products.
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The “Atlantic Collection” of four coasters, pictured here, costs $30 and can be purchased online at ecoseatile.com or in gift shops such as Maine’s Pantry on Commercial Street in Portland.
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