By Kesem Yahav

This is a guide I wrote about circular ceramics and how to maintain a sustainable, eco-friendly ceramic studio.
It's based on the "10 R's Strategy" of the circular economy, which I've adapted specifically for ceramics and studio practices.

If you're a ceramicist, work with clay in your studio or business, or know someone who does, please share this with them.
I'd love to hear your feedback and help spread the word to make ceramics more sustainable.

→ Remember, aiming for a completely "green" studio isn't realistic, and that's okay. This isn't about ceramic shaming or making anyone feel bad about what they can't do. It's about raising awareness and encouraging small, thoughtful changes. Start with what's manageable - small steps that, hopefully, with time, will grow into more meaningful shifts.
 

Adapting the 10 R's Strategy of the Circular Economy to Ceramic Studios and Practices:

Ceramics are often considered a sustainable material because clay is a natural resource; however, several aspects of ceramic production make it far from a "green" industry. This is mainly due to:

 • Firing ceramics requires high temperatures and energy, usually from gas or electric kilns, making it one of the biggest environmental challenges due to the significant CO₂ emissions.

 • Mining clay and other raw materials can destroy natural landscapes, pollute water sources, and, in some regions, involve unethical practices such as child labor.

 • While clay is a natural material and can be recycled multiple times before firing, once fired, it becomes non-decomposable and contributes to long-term waste, often ending up in landfills.

• The use of toxic substances and chemicals in glazes can leak into water systems, harming both the environment and human health.

 • As a large industry, ceramics depends on Mass-produced items that are often low-cost, low-quality items that are quickly disposable and increase waste.

 

As sustainability becomes a growing concern worldwide, it's essential to rethink how we produce, consume, and dispose of ceramics. While we may not have control over the big players in the ceramic industry, we do have the power to make conscious choices in our studios.

For decades, the ceramic industry, like many others, followed the "Take, Make, Dispose" model that has dominated since the Industrial Revolution. This linear model, known as "cradle to grave”, assumes resources are unlimited and ignores the waste it creates.

The circular economy offers a smarter approach—minimizing waste, using fewer resources, and designing products to be reused or recycled. This started with the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" (3Rs) concept from the 1970s and has since developed into the more detailed "10 R's" strategy for deeper, more thoughtful resource use and waste management. This is a conceptual shift through the years from waste management to waste prevention, emphasizing the idea of a "closed loop" system.

 

The 10 R's strategy, expanded by Jacqueline Cramer and also linked to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, offers a helpful guide for using resources and managing waste. These principles include: R0 Refuse, R1 Rethink, R2 Reduce, R3 Reuse, R4 Repair, R5 Refurbish, R6 Remanufacture, R7 Repurpose, R8 Recycle, R9 Recover.

These 10 steps, ordered by their environmental impact, can provide a practical framework for ceramicists aiming to build more sustainable practices. Let’s focus on the ones most relevant to ceramic studios and explore how they can be applied in everyday work, whether you’re an independent artist or part of a larger workshop. No matter the scale, these principles offer meaningful ways to reduce impact and make the craft more sustainable.

 

Remember, aiming for a completely "green" studio isn't realistic, and that's okay. This isn't about ceramic shaming or making anyone feel bad about what they can't do. It's about raising awareness and encouraging small, thoughtful changes. Start with what's manageable - small steps that, hopefully, with time, will grow into more meaningful shifts.

 

The R-Strategy for Sustainable Ceramics:

While the 10 R’s offer a broad framework, I've narrowed them down to the 7 most impactful steps for ceramic studios. These actions will challenge you to rethink your approach and discover creative, sustainable solutions for your practice:

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1. Refuse – It's the most important one because it’s not just a step— it’s a mindset shift, and where actual change begins. Think about what you can refuse in your practice. What materials or methods are unnecessary or harmful? Can you refuse to use toxic glazes, unsustainable materials, over-packaging, or materials shipped from far away? What can you avoid from the start to reduce your impact on the planet? Can you say no to overproduction and wasteful habits? Can you say no to cobalt, gold luster, and lead?

2. Rethink – This is the second key action, and just as important. Rethinking means questioning your design and production choices. Can you use more sustainable materials? Could you fire less often or more efficiently? Are there ways to reduce your footprint without compromising your artistic vision? It’s also about recognizing why you make what you make — and aligning your methods, materials, and suppliers with your values.

3. Reduce – How can you use fewer resources in your practice? Can you reduce the amount of clay, glaze, water, or energy you use? Look for ways to minimize waste through mindful design, smaller batches, efficient firing, or switching to recycled clay. Even small reductions add up over time.

4. Reuse (and Repurpose) – What can you reuse in your practice? Can you incorporate scrap clay, broken pieces, or old ceramics into new works? Are there studio tools or materials you can reuse instead of discarding? How can you repurpose what would otherwise be considered waste? Reclaim scraps, molds, and packaging. Turn broken or unused items into new creations. Donate fired, broken ceramics to mosaic artists or use them as garden gravel. Reuse wrapping and packaging materials from other businesses.

5. Repair – When something breaks, can you repair it instead of throwing it away? How can you bring broken pieces back to life, perhaps using methods like kintsugi or other creative repairs? Repairing adds new value to your work and helps to reduce waste. Fix and restore creatively damaged pieces instead of discarding them.

6. Remanufacture – Can you transform broken or failed pieces into usable material? For example, can you crush fired ceramics into grog for reuse, or reprocess unfired clay to avoid waste? Think about how you can remanufacture discarded pieces into new work. Rework failed ceramics, reclaim clay, and—if you're able to access one—use a ball mill to grind fired waste into usable material. Not every studio has access to this equipment, but it’s a valuable tool if available.

7. Recycle – One of the most obvious steps in a ceramic studio—there’s no question about it. You should recycle every bit of unfired clay, including trimmings and slurry. While it can be hard work, it’s essential. Also, consider recycling leftover glaze and the clay collected in the slip trap (or settling tank) under your sink.

 

Shifting Perceptions in Ceramic Practices

The first two steps - Refuse and Rethink - are the most crucial because they require a fundamental shift in how we see and approach our work. This change in perception is often the hardest part, but it also begins with practical steps we can take every day.

 

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

 

• Awareness, understand the materials you have in your studio, where they come from, and where the waste is disposed of.

 • Be aware of the energy and environmental impact of your choices.

Mindset Change

• From fast and disposable → to slow and meaningful

• From perfection and profit → to care and connection

Daily Habits

• Reuse clay scraps and save water.

• Fill kilns fully to save energy.

• Avoid toxic glazes and harmful materials.

• Repair and repurpose broken pieces, or donate them.

• Prefer buying locally or within your area, and make only what’s needed.

• Plan projects mindfully to minimize waste.

• Use energy-efficient tools when possible.

• Choose reusable or minimal packaging, or repurpose packaging from other businesses.

 Community Thinking

• Share knowledge, tools, and recipes

• Support local makers and suppliers

• Educate others through your practice.

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Choosing a circular approach in ceramics means being creative while also taking responsibility for our environmental impact. It asks us to rethink old habits, make more conscious choices, and sometimes take uncomfortable steps toward change. It takes courage, but every small shift matters, and over time, these choices can shape a more sustainable and thoughtful future for ceramics.

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It's okay not to have all the answers right away. This is a challenging journey, and each step, no matter how small, brings us closer to a more mindful practice.