Jesmonite is known for its environmental credentials, as a water based resin without toxic chemicals, but just how eco-friendly is it? There are so many ways you can use and reuse Jesmonite – a common way is to make terrazzo chips, they are a great way of using leftover Jesmonite. It’s something many many creatives do, like @rebeccahiscockdesign @dabi.studios @prettyneutral.x @soulboundchaos @concrete_nest @mountaintop.tranquility @monsart_designs @sadies.things @flossyscents @beautifulu00 @we_are_mountain @lindaianhandmade and @voenk.be… to name a few!! Here we speak to some other excellent creatives (although we are well aware there are many more out there!) who put environmental responsibility at the very top of the agenda in all sorts of ways. Artists are being extra kind to the environment by having no waste or creating products with their waste – completely minimising the impact on the environment.
Jodie Mclernon from @terrazzo&titz based in Glasgow reuses her plastic mixing pots 10 times each and collects any leftovers in them. “I collect all the leftovers, throw them into a multi chip pot and mash them with a pestle and mortar,” she said. “My multi pieces are now the most popular sellers, so much so that I sometimes think I need to buy other people’s waste chips or make broken off bits! “With bigger chunks I pour them into a mould and release them under a zero waste collection – more abstract pieces which people seem to enjoy.”
Vivienne Mountford is a nurse by trade by runs @solocloud25, she only began using Jesmonite a few months ago and loves the eco-friendly nature of it compared to the previous resin she was using. “I’m trialling different things, pots, bangles, trays, anything – but as it’s so new I am not sure how to calculate it so I was making it up and had lots of leftovers,” she said. “I really really hate waste so I rushed out some moulds and was so impressed because using leftovers, the features strike out a bit more. “I do this for relaxation but I am hoping to do local craft fairs and sell online and have a big bag of bits that have broken, i’ll be using them all up in different products.”
Jaymini Mistry, who runs @fromministudio, also keeps all the flakes and chips left from the mixing pots to create one off terrazzo products which go down very well with customers. She is a print designer for fashion by trade and set up her business in June 2020, during lockdown, making coasters, trays, trinkets, heart candle holders and a marble effect collection – all sent in plastic free packaging using a honeycomb wrap. “I have always worked with clay but I wanted something stronger and more environmentally friendly,” she said. “When I found Jesmonite a year ago it was eco friendly and easy to use as well – then when I started practicing and getting used to the material I was mixing in yoghurt pots and noticed there was quite a lot left over in there. “It was dry but there was nothing wrong with it so I chipped it out and use every single bit to make one off pieces – my customers love the colours you can create and the fact you can make any products with them.”
And if you don’t make other products with the leftovers yourself – you can still reuse them through regifting – and that’s what Suezan of @suezanart, based in the Netherlands, does. After creating pieces like a Jesmonite chess set and sculptures previously made in other materials, Suezan made a video about making molds with zero waste. “Creating in an eco-friendly way is important to me, it’s important to think about the materials we use and about reducing waste that comes when making art,” she said. “That’s how I learned about Jesmonite – I was already working with Monster Clay, one of the reasons being that I can melt it and reuse it over and over. And when I asked what would be the most durable and eco-friendly material to cast with, they recommended Jesmonite. “Casting with Jesmonite has been great, so much fun and I’m so surprised with the results. “Even though I try to produce as little waste as possible, sometimes I do have Jesmonite left over. Because my sculpts are not that suitable for terrazzo I thought about saving up the chips and giving them away. “I have found someone who is interested in doing terrazzo, so I’m saving them up for that person and anyone that is interested, storing 4 different colors now. “I also hope to see an overall shift in working towards zero waste. With Jesmonite that is absolutely possible”
Other artists we know capitalising on making the most of everything they create with Jesmonite include Lucy Lowe from @heykiddoco. Lucy blew us away when she made her own water filter out of Jesmonite packaging to filter any waste water and reuse it. Since making the filtration system (which she did by looking up survival videos on YouTube) at the start of 2021 Lucy, the Bear Grylls of Jesmonite, has reused about 300 liters of filtered water. “I make a lot of terrazzo pieces and you need to sand them down with a wet sand, the water gets so filthy with Jesmonite in there, silt and microplastics too, these can’t go down the drain,” she said. “I tried to create a closed loop water system, using old Jesmonite containers. “It’s a gravity fed filter and the waste is removed instead of going down the drain into the water supply, then I reuse the water. “The most important thing for me is people being responsible with their waste. Jesmonite is great but you still have to be careful about any by-products you create.” Lucy has since made a video to show other people how to do it, you can find it here (LINK – https://www.heykiddoco.co.uk/post/creating-a-gravity-fed-water-filter-for-jesmonite-ac100-in-6-steps). Many other creatives get, well, a little creative! We loved to see how @Stone_moor in Beeston, Nottingham, uses the Jesmonite packaging as planters – planting sunflowers in them.
Here’s some other environmental initiatives we’ve seen online and loved…
@getflecked in Somerset planted 25 trees for every purchase from them over a recent bank holiday weekend – as part of their commitment to being a sustainable and carbon neutral business they’ve planted over 100 trees with @ecology_hq over the past 8 months!
@razzostudio always sells sample sales and uses no plastic in making or shipping
@wednesdaymoonshop makes keyrings from left over Jesmonite
@crystalpalaceworkshop creates rainbow terrazzo bookends and pots using the scraps from other items
@rekha_maker sells seconds at a discounted price and crushes up any unfit ones for use as an aggregate
@orange_ivy_ uses any leftovers to pour into making small ring holders
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