Circular Ceramics: Reclaiming the Past with Grog Technology
In the linear economy of the past, a cracked pot was waste. In the circular economy of 2026, it is a raw material. The concept of grog pulverized fired ceramic waste—is revolutionizing Multani pottery by creating a closed-loop manufacturing system.
Benefits of Recycled Grog
Fired ceramic waste (rejections from deformities or breakage) is ground into a powder known as grog. When reincorporated into fresh clay at a 40/60 ratio (40% fire clay to 60% grog), it offers several technical advantages:
- Reduced Mining : Using this ratio reduces the need for virgin natural resource extraction by 60% to 70%
- Structural Stability : Grog acts as an insulator and reduces the shrinkage of the clay body during the drying phase, preventing cracks in large-scale vessels.
- Energy Efficiency : Because the material has been vitrified once, the recycled body vitrifies perfectly at 1160°C, requiring less fuel than virgin clay.
Impact on the Indus Ecosystem
Traditional ceramic production relies heavily on the extraction of clays from riverbeds, leading to ecosystem disruption. By adopting grog technology, Multani clusters can mitigate the material crisis facing the industry while preserving the delicate river ecosystems of the Indus and Chenab. This Cradle-to-Cradle approach ensures that if a piece develops defects during production, it can simply be pulverized and returned to the cycle, ensuring zero waste.
