An engineer in the public buildings and works sector, Espérance Fenzy was appalled by the mass of non-recovered waste from dismantling sites. In 2015, this native of Roubaix in northern France created his own company, Etnisi, and now devotes his time to what he calls ‘wasterials’, materials intended for landfill, which he offers a new life.
In the building industry, everything can and must be recycled
The building sector is one of the biggest consumers of mineral resources, which are today at risk of shortages. In France, 350-million tonnes of waste has been generated by this sector. In a bid to utilise this waste, Etnisi began by producing tiles, small tables and cups from concrete powder, quarry waste and old bricks from northern France.
Focusing on local material
Next up, Espérance Fenzy tackled carpet waste, the rubber from tennis balls, glass and coffee grounds. Each element of recycled waste produces a material with a unique appearance and sometimes you can still make out its original origin. The latest creation from Etnisi: the transformation of 4 tonnes of mussel shells recovered at the market in Lille into a dark bluish tile. Indeed, above all else, its founder likes to recover local material, which has a story behind it and is more meaningful for the region’s inhabitants.
