Coastal village inspires bivalve waste helmets

In Japan, a startup has developed a helmet using scallop waste from a Sarufutsu Village landfill. Together with ad agency TBWA HAKUHODO, Quantum sought to use the bivalves to simultaneously protect noggins  and repurpose the 40,000 tons of shell waste the village’s maritime industry generates annually. Previously, the village was able to ship the scallop shells to other countries for various uses, but such exports ceased in 2021.

Called HOTAMET, the helmet combines recycled shells and an eco-friendly plastic and weighs just 400 grams. A ribbed design increases the helmet’s durability, making it appropriate for use in disaster zones, biking, and work sites.

“From the development of materials to the design, we aimed to create products that are environmentally friendly and sustainable,” Quantum chief designer Shintaro Kadota tells online publication Designboom.  “The lightweight and robust helmet has a simple design, so you can use it for a long time in a variety of situations, from everyday use to work sites.”

Quantum hopes to launch HOTAMET in March for around 4,800 yen (US$35).