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Other animal products

Other animal products

Including bone, shell and hair (insulation and upholstery supplies)

Animal-derived materials such as hair, bone and shell have been used in construction, interiors and product design for centuries due to their durability, unique aesthetics and functional properties. However, growing interest in sustainable and ethical design has prompted greater scrutiny of their environmental impacts, traceability, animal welfare implications and suitability within circular economy principles. While many of these materials utilise by-products from agriculture or fisheries, responsible specification requires careful consideration of sourcing, health, safety and end-of-life outcomes.

Although hair, bone and shell can be regarded as resource-efficient because they utilise by-products that might otherwise become waste, they remain intrinsically linked to livestock and fishing industries, both of which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and resource consumption. Consequently, many sustainability frameworks recommend evaluating whether lower-impact recycled, plant-based or mineral alternatives can achieve the same functional outcome.  

For guidance on fabric applications of skins: leather, suede, and fur, wool, silk - see TEXTILES section. For guidance on animal products in paint and adhesives - see PAINT, COATINGS, ADHESIVES

Facts

  • 467,000 tonnes of carpet and textile flooring waste was generated in the UK in 2020, of which only 65,500 tonnes (14%) was sent to destinations other than landfill or combustion. There are many difficulties in finding alternative cheap, scalable, and environmentally friendly end-of-life routes for carpet, as it is a long-lasting, hard-wearing composite material. SOURCE
  • Carpet is found in approximately 90% of British homes, representing a widespread and constant stream of both domestic and commercial waste. SOURCE

Key Points

  • Bone and many shell products are commonly sourced as by-products of the meat and seafood industries, while some animal hair products—such as wool, mohair and cashmere—are primary products harvested from live animals. Although by-product utilisation can improve resource efficiency by reducing waste, all animal-derived materials remain linked to animal production systems and may raise animal welfare and ethical concerns depending on farming, harvesting and processing practices.
  • Environmental impacts depend largely on the source industry, processing methods and transport distances.
  • Supply chain transparency is essential to verify legal, ethical and sustainable sourcing.
  • Processing often involves chemicals, adhesives or coatings that may affect indoor air quality and recyclability.
  • Installers should manage dust exposure when cutting, sanding or machining bone and shell products.
  • Animal-derived materials are difficult to recycle into equivalent products and are typically downcycled, composted (where untreated) or disposed of through energy recovery or landfill.
  • Increasing demand for bio-based and animal-free alternatives is encouraging innovation in plant-based composites and recycled materials.

Bone

Bone is generally considered a by-product of meat production

Designers should seek suppliers that can demonstrate legal sourcing, species identification, compliance with international wildlife regulations and full traceability.

Safety for installers 

Cutting or sanding bone generates fine particulate dust that may irritate the respiratory system and eyes. Local dust extraction, eye protection and suitable respiratory protective equipment should be used during fabrication.

Consider possible VOC content

Of adhesives, resins or surface coatings used to bond or finish bone products. These will also limit opportunities for material recovery. 

Alternatives to bone, consider:

  • FSC-certified timber – Offers a natural appearance with significantly better circularity and repairability
  • Tagua nut (vegetable ivory) – A renewable seed from South American palm trees that closely resembles ivory or polished bone when finished
  • Recycled paper composites (e.g. Richlite) – Durable, machinable and made from recycled paper and bio-based or phenolic resins
  • Mineral composites – Engineered materials that replicate the appearance of bone while offering durability and consistency
  • Bio-based composites – Emerging materials made from agricultural fibres and plant-based binders

Shell

Shell materials—including mother-of-pearl, oyster, abalone and mussel shell—are widely used for decorative surfaces, mosaics and inlays due to their durability and iridescent appearance.

Species protection

Many shell products utilise waste generated by the seafood industry, improving resource efficiency. However, some species are protected under international conservation agreements, making traceability and legal sourcing particularly important.

Use wet cutting

Cutting shell produces silica- and calcium-rich dust that should be controlled using wet cutting techniques or local extraction alongside appropriate respiratory protection.

Evaluate potential VOC emissions

From adhesives, adhesives, resins, sealants and backing materials,, as these applications also restrict future options for material recovery.

Alternatives to shell, consider:

  • Recycled glass mosaics – Available in iridescent finishes with high recycled content
  • Recycled ceramic tiles – Durable and suitable for decorative applications
  • Bio-resins with mineral or cellulose additives – Can recreate pearlescent effects without animal-derived ingredients
  • Engineered terrazzo – Incorporating recycled glass, ceramics or mineral aggregates
  • Plant-based decorative laminates – Increasingly available with pearlescent or textured finishes

Animal Hair

Animal hair use traditionally—including wool, horsehair, goat hair and yak hair—has historically been used in upholstery, insulation, felts and acoustic products. Hair fibres provide natural resilience, moisture regulation and thermal insulation. 
Hog and badger hair is used in the production of bristle paint brushes. Artist paint brushes also sometimes use hair from mongoose, pony, squirrel, sable, wolf, goat, ox, camel, raccoon and rabbits. Wool rollers are used quite generally by decorators. 

Seek transparency around welfare 

Hair should ideally be sourced as a verified by-product from livestock systems with recognised animal welfare standards and traceable supply chains. Certification schemes for wool (e.g. Responsible Wool Standard) can improve transparency, although not all animal hair products are certified.

Handling of hair products generally present low installation risks

During cutting or removal, dust should be minimised using extraction equipment and suitable respiratory protection where required.

Chemical treatments

Fibres, however natural, may need to be treated with chemicals to meet fire resistance requirements, to combat pest control or for stain resistance should be assessed for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

End of use

Untreated natural hair fibres may be compostable or biodegradable, while products containing synthetic binders, latex or chemical finishes are typically unsuitable for composting and difficult to recycle.

Alternatives to animal hair for these applications, you could consider

  • Coir - Natural fibre made from the husk of coconuts and is widely used in upholstery as a firm, supportive, hypoallergenic, biodegradable padding material, often as a base layer under softer fillings like horsehair or foam.
  • Cotton - Hypoallergenic, breathable batting or wadding.
  • Plant fibres - biobased regenerative carbon sequestering plants such as bulrush, hemp, flax (linen), bamboo, sisal and jute.
  • Cellulose – Manufactured from recycled paper, providing good thermal performance with a low embodied carbon footprint.
  • Wood fibre – Renewable, vapour permeable and suitable for healthy building design.
  • Recycled PET fibre – Produced from recycled plastic bottles and widely used in acoustic panels and furniture cushioning. Beware this fibre sheds microfibres when laundered — avoid specifying recycled content in washable fabrics. Ask for the percentage of recycled content, and whether it's post-consumer or factory waste.

Tortoiseshell

International trade of genuine tortoiseshell, sourced from the hawksbill turtle, has been prohibited under CITES since 1977. In the UK, the trade of new ivory has also been banned since 2018, with only highly restricted exemptions.

Ivory

Since 2018, the Ivory Act has banned the sale of ivory within the UK, with minimal exemptions granted only to antiques of exceptional artistic significance. When sourcing such antique items, designers are required to understand their legal obligations and thoroughly verify provenance.

Horn

In the UK, antler is frequently traded freely, and buffalo and cow horn remain legal and widely utilised for handles, inlay work, and decorative objects. However, it is strictly prohibited to trade antler or horn from protected and endangered species, such as rhinoceros. Therefore, verifying the species is always essential.

RESOURCES

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