In the past, the discarded oyster shells could be seen everywhere in the western coastal areas of Taiwan, causing serious problems of environmental pollution. The government even had to set up public storage fields for the discarded oyster shells and prepared annual budgets for maintenance and management. TSC invested in the “circular use of oyster shells” as an “innovation pioneer” and built a biomaterial plant. Through the collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the discarded oyster shells are recovered and calcined into raw materials of calcium carbonate or ground powder, turning the shells into valuable biomass materials, enabling us to not only supply calcium carbonate for self-demands in the feed factories and farms but also provide calcium carbonate sources for domestic manufacturing of feed and fertilizers to replace imported materials.

          TSC’s oyster shall biomaterial processing factory has been officially operated since 2021. The processing capacity of discarded oyster shells is estimated to be 50,000 tonnes annually, producing 40,000 tonnes of calcium carbonate. In addition to solving the problems of waste and the quality of life of the local residents, it can also replace the traditional sources of the calcium carbonate from scoria obtained from digging the mountain or the imported white scoria, solving the problems of shortage and waste of natural resource while reducing the carbon travel and carbon footprint. 

          The oyster shell power of TSC Biomaterial Processing Factory has been successfully developed into products:

• Antibacterial Shell Powder: Formosa Plastics Corporation purchases oyster shell powder from TSC’s Biotechnology Business Division and self-developed and manufactured antibacterial shell powder. After calcined at high temperature, oyster shell powder produces strong alkali and active oxygen, which can destroy the bacterial structure. This antibacterial shell powder can be added into plastic daily necessities (such as flip-flops, EVA shoes, and chopping boards) to achieve the antibacterial effect and create a safe home environment for the public.
• 3D Printing Substrates: E-Plast Machinery Co., Ltd. and the C-Hub of National Cheng Kung University cooperated in the technology of adding the oyster shell powder from TSC’s Biotechnology Business Division into the cement paste to develop a new substrate for 3D printing. The developed cement-like structure can be used in artworks for public display or public facilities. Its pressure resistance is as good as pure cement products, but it is lighter and has low specific heat, and it will soon be applied in environmentally friendly building materials.
• Wood plastic composite (WPC): Huan Su Technology Co., Ltd. is committed to the R&D of wood plastic composite (WPC) and has successfully added as high as 50% of oyster shell powder in the wood plastic to maintain its degree of pressure and wear resistance. In addition, the WPC is strong, tough, and corrosion-resistant, beneficial to maintain the integrity of facilities. WPC is made from recycled materials, and it can therefore be a green product.
• Handmade soap with oyster shell powder: Oyster shell powder has deodorizing effect. TSC mixes the oyster shell power with the soap liquid and produces handmade soap that has deodorizing effect and can effectively remove odors.