CharCrete Designs

By incorporating biochar and other recycled waste materials into the mix, CharCrete Designs demonstrates a commitment to environmentally responsible design and production practices, offering sustainable interior décor alternatives. SUSTAINABLE BENEFITS 1. The inclusion of biochar in CharCrete brings several sustainable benefits to the material. The utilisation of biochar helps to sequester carbon, effectively storing it in a solid form within the concrete. This carbon sequestration process helps mitigate the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, thus reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional concrete production. CharCrete acts as a unique carbon sink by keeping the CO2 trapped in every product! 2. Another aspect of CharCrete's sustainability lies in its utilisation of organic waste materials as a feedstock for biochar production. By diverting organic waste from landfills and utilizing it as a valuable resource, CharCrete contributes to waste reduction and promotes a circular economy approach. WHAT IS BIOCHAR? Biochar is produced through a process called pyrolysis, which involves heating organic waste materials such as agricultural residues or farming byproducts in a low-oxygen environment. This process converts the waste into a stable form of carbon, known as biochar, which can then be incorporated into various applications, including concrete. The biochar used in making CharCrete is sourced locally from Australia's leading producer - GreenMan Char. OTHER INGREDIENTS IN THE MIX 1. Australian Builders EcoBlend cement (type GB replaces 50% of regular cement with a recovered industrial by-product from an iron blast furnace.) 2. Waste Tasmanian oak shavings rescued from a local timber workshop used as a natural fibre reinforcement. 3. Recycled glass sand made from recovered waste glass (the type that is unsuitable for recycling back into glass and ends up in landfill) replacing and preserving natural sand. 4. Concrete iron oxide pigments for integral coloring. Pigment is also recovered from the sanding process and reused in future mixes. MEET THE THE MAKER Hello and welcome, my name is Angie Muccillo and I am the maker, mix designer and materials researcher behind CharCrete Designs - a circular design based project that emerged during the 2020 lockdown! Hand mixed and poured from my home-based studio in Melbourne I am passionate about creating home decor pieces that blend aesthetics, functionality, and environmental responsibility. For over 10 years I have been involved in running the Transitions Film Festival, which is where my passion for sustainability has grown. The festival showcases documentaries about the social and technological innovations, revolutionary ideas and trailblazing changemakers that are leading the way to a better world. The evolution and development of CharCrete has been influenced and informed by my exploration of eco-conscious practices such as circular design and a ‘waste-to-resource’ approach to production. I thrive on learning and am completely self taught. My journey in product development has come about through endless hours of research, experimentation, trial and error. A truly self guided passion project!