In China’s porcelain capital Jingdezhen, discarded ceramics are being transformed into new products, reviving a centuries-old tradition of reuse while supporting greener development.

The brand XUN, meaning “recycling,” collects broken porcelain, then sorts, crushes and purifies it before reformulating and firing it into vases, planters, tableware and other products.
Owner and co-partner Lan Lan said recycled pieces are safe and durable, while retaining porcelain particles that give finished products a unique look.

XUN also uses sand-mold 3D printing to make larger decorative items. Its products are displayed at the China International Import Expo and Canton Fair and sell well in Europe and the Americas.

Jingdezhen has reused ceramic waste for centuries. Broken porcelain, spent saggers and damaged kiln bricks were used to fill waterways, raise land and build walls and foundations. Ceramic waste was also placed beneath roads to help rainwater drain into underground channels.

By 1990, the city had more than 90,000 meters of sewers, including over 6,000 meters of arched channels built with discarded kiln bricks. A drainage channel built in 1914 remains in use.
Jingdezhen’s Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July, becoming China’s 61st World Heritage site.

However, the city produces up to 90,000 tonnes of porcelain waste annually, much of which is dumped or buried. Zhang Jingjing, vice president of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, said recycling is currently the most effective way to reduce its environmental impact.

Businesses including Yi Design are developing new uses. Its permeable bricks contain more than 90 percent recycled porcelain and are suitable for “sponge city” projects. The product won an iF Design Gold Award in 2022.

In 2024, Jingdezhen launched a “zero-waste city” initiative, encouraging ceramic producers to reduce waste through technology and develop higher-value uses for discarded porcelain.
Lan Lan hopes every discarded piece will eventually find a new purpose, saying, “Nothing is truly discarded. It’s simply waiting for its next form.”