Coming Soon … Discarded Oyster Shells Become Eco-Friendly Sunglasses
ostrea (n.) - Latin (oh-stree-uh) oyster
Eco-friendly Sunglasses Coming Soon!
Our company is transforming discarded oyster shells that otherwise are a menace to surrounding wildlife, waterways and the environment at large, into sunglasses. It’s just common sense. Let’s use the resources already around us rather than producing millions of tons of waste that becomes a new problem.
Ostrea & Co Styles was born out of a sense that eco-friendly and sustainability can only move forward when consumers lead businesses in the right direction. That is your “call to action.” The burgeoning circular economy looks to use the resources already around us. We are here to humbly do our part.
Ostrea & Co Styles offers the discerning consumer the chance to choose style and common sense. Choose a fashion piece you can tell stories about. Express your unique style and do the right thing in the course of your fashion statement.
We are all ordinary people doing something that can make an extraordinary difference. We built this company so you can do the same. We are proud to offer our line of premium sunglasses that have been carefully crafted in Italy by a generational artisan eyewear family. Our partner has been honing their craft since the 1960’s including pioneering the path forward in sustainable materials. We have chosen our partners carefully in order to give you the choice we know you want.
Our company will set aside a portion of every purchase of our sunglasses to be donated to a deserving non profit that is working to rebuild oyster reefs along coastal waterways. When oysters thrive, people work and our communities and waterways benefit and thrive too. We are all in for that!
Thank you for choosing Ostrea & Co Styles.
Eco-friendly sunglasses made in Italy
We have carefully chosen our partners to bring you a premium fashion piece. Made in Italy. We are compounding discarded oyster shells and plant based material to bring a more sustainable product to the sunglasses space.
Our Story
Our team was in Charleston, SC for the Fourth of July holiday, 2024. During the visit as we made our way around the surrounding beach communities, we noticed piles of oyster shells that were discarded at a number of different locations. It was explained to us that oysters are a hallmark of the Charleston dining scene and the shells were the byproduct of Charleston’s love of oysters. It was essentially at this moment that Ostrea & Co Styles was born. After the Charleston trip we began to research the oyster shell waste issue and discovered that it was widespread throughout the world in coastal communities where oysters are consumed in large numbers. Why not use this resource that is readily available? We learned that when dumped in landfills, these shells become a menace to the surrounding waterways and environment.
The focus of our business is to provide a high end fashion piece that coexists comfortably with sustainability. We will use this renewable resource. We chose sunglasses because it aligns with our personal brand. We spent our formative years doing summers at the Jersey shore from Avalon and Sea Isle City all the way up to Asbury Park. The beauty of the bay sunsets and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean during summers seemed endless. That is our vibe. We have the sand in our toes and its just part of us. We wanted to make something that was everyday. Everyone uses sunglasses. So, when they are done wrong, the damage to the environment is immense. But done right, we can make a very significant contribution to sustainability. All of us, together.
Ostrea & Co Styles will donate a portion of the proceeds of each sale to support oyster reef restoration in coastal areas where the oyster economy is critical to the well-being of the people who live there. We believe in balancing purpose and commerce. We believe in the circular economy. We are all just ordinary people. We can make an extraordinary difference when each of us decides to be the difference. Thank you for visiting our site. We hope you choose Ostrea & Co Styles.
Balancing Purpose with Commerce - Ostrea & Co Styles Mindset
Repurposing Oyster Shells: A Sustainable Solution for Waste Management and Coastal Conservation
Oyster shells have traditionally been discarded as waste. Recent studies have highlighted the environmental benefits of repurposing the shells for other uses. By diverting oyster shells from landfills and incorporating them into sustainable products, we can reduce waste, promote coastal conservation, and contribute to a more circular economy.
Environmental Benefits of Repurposing Oyster Shells
Reduction of landfill waste: Oyster shells, when disposed of in landfills, can contribute to the accumulation of waste and release harmful pollutants. By repurposing the shells, we can reduce the burden on landfills and minimize environmental contamination.
Habitat restoration: Oyster reefs, formed by the accumulation of oyster shells, provide critical habitat for a diverse range of marine species. Repurposed oyster shells can be used to recreate artificial reefs, which can help restore degraded habitats and enhance biodiversity.
Nutrient Cycling: Oyster reefs play a vital role in nutrient cycling, filtering excess nutrients from the water column and preventing harmful algal blooms. Repurposing oyster shells can support the development of healthy oyster reefs, thereby improving water quality and ecosystem health.
Carbon Sequestration: Oyster shells are composed of calcium carbonate, a mineral that can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Incorporating oyster shells into reef restoration projects can contribute to carbon sequestration and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Addressing Concerns About Competing with Oyster Reef Restoration
Because we repurpose discarded shells not used for reef restoration, we can be part of the solution. While some oyster shells may be recycled or used for other purposes, a portion of them end up as waste in coastal regions. The discarded shells can have negative impacts on the environment such as affecting water quality or interfering with marine habitats.
Repurposing oyster shells represents a sustainable and innovative approach to waste management and coastal conservation. These shells would otherwise end up in landfills. By repurposing the waste into eco-friendly sunglasses, we can reduce environmental pollution, enhance marine habitats, and contribute to a more circular economy.
Eco-friendly is Fashionable All Around the World
All over the world, fashion forward and sustainability focused consumers are making different kinds of choices that reflect an unwavering support for the health and stewardship of our oceans and planet. The clear imperative — we will not sacrifice personal expression and fashion for sustainability. They do and must go together.
At Ostrea & Co Styles, sustainability is a strategic imperative, not a side dish.
