Recycling Waste Fish Scales for Creative Design and Reuse through 3D Printing Technology |

Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

Recycling Waste Fish Scales for Creative Design and Reuse through 3D Printing Technology.
URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）

https://youtu.be/3FyYZERvOMg
Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

The origin of this project is closely related to my upbringing by the ocean. My family once operated an eel farm, and during my childhood, I lived near Keelung Harbor. After serving in the military along the coast of Tainan, I pursued a Ph.D. in Japan, residing in nearby port cities like Yokohama and Numazu. Throughout my growth, I frequently encountered fish scales scattered in various places, emitting unpleasant odors, which became part of my memories. After returning to Taiwan and becoming a university professor, a craft materials development project rekindled my connection with fish scales. The gelatinous properties of fish scales led me to consider their potential as a natural craft material and for 3D printing.
Aquatic waste is typically measured by weight, and fish scales are often overlooked due to their negligible weight and tiny volume. Additionally, the collection and separation of scales require considerable time and labor, which diminishes people’s willingness to recycle them. Although fish scales are considered aquatic waste, they are primarily composed of calcium and phosphorus, making them a fully biodegradable natural material. We separate fish scales into fish gelatin and scale powder, and the resulting clay-like mixture can be printed using ceramic 3D printing technology. After printing, the material naturally dries into lightweight objects with a bone-like texture and hardness. We believe it holds great potential as a natural material for crafts or design while significantly reducing this aquatic waste.
How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?

For Profit
:
This project uses simple, low-cost processing methods—boiling, baking, and grinding—without the need for expensive equipment or special chemical additives. This enables fish scales to be transformed into a natural 3D printing material, achieving a natural hardening effect through its collagen. The low-cost approach allows more collaborators to participate in the recycling process.

For Planet
In:
In its application, this project consumes large amounts of fish scales rather than using them merely as an additive, reducing their exposure to the environment during disposal and minimizing the environmental impact of their decay.

For People
: We position this material as suitable for craft and artistic creation, as it is naturally biodegradable and has self-hardening properties, making it ideal for artisans. For stakeholders in fish scale recycling, such as seafood processors and aquaculture operators, this approach provides meaningful motivation to participate in recycling this type of waste.
Keywords

#Fish-scale#Aquatic Waste#3D Printing
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Special Prize Question 1: "Empowering nature to create a new loop”: How does your work strengthen or support nature’s ability to capture and convert waste into valuable resources? How does your work advance industry practices by introducing nature-positive alternatives?

In this project, we aim to clarify the process by which fish scale waste is generated and identify potential collaborators by conducting site surveys and engaging with stakeholders involved with fish scale waste.
In fish markets and harbors, we did not receive positive responses from stakeholders, as collecting fish scales would delay their work. However, we successfully identified aquaculture and aquatic food processing operators as partners for fish scale collection, as their work processes allow sufficient time for gathering fish scales and performing initial cleaning and drying.
For the later stages of 3D printing, craft creation, and exhibition, we collaborated with design students and artisans, who used their creativity to reveal to the public how these beautiful pieces are made from transformed fish scales.
Special Prize Question 2: “Regenerating ecosystems”: In what inspiring ways does your work contribute to the restoration and stabilization of natural ecosystems?

In this project, we aim to help the public understand the following points through exhibitions of 3D printed works made from fish scales and lectures:
1) How the unpleasant-smelling fish scales can be transformed into 3D printing materials, which can then be designed into creative and aesthetically pleasing 3D printed works.
2) The unpleasant odor of fish scales is actually due to their composition of collagen and hydroxyapatite, which are rare and valuable components that are difficult to replicate. We should make good use of this material.
3) While revealing these 3D printed works to the public, we are also recycling and processing a large quantity of discarded fish scales. The more people use this material, the greater the reduction in its environmental impact as waste.
Special Prize Question 3: “Education and storytelling”: How does your work make complex bioeconomy concepts accessible and engaging?

This project transforms fish scales, a type of biomass waste, into natural 3D printing materials. We primarily conduct lectures and design workshops at the university, allowing students to observe the process of processing fish scales into 3D printing materials and understand their material properties. Students are encouraged to propose design concepts that add value, ultimately realizing these concepts into tangible products through 3D printing. Additionally, we showcase the final products made entirely from fish scales through public exhibitions, generating significant interest from the public and media, and connecting us with more stakeholders.