Look around your home and you almost certainly have at least one form of pottery. Even if you don't have fine china you will likely have ceramic tableware or crockery for everyday use.

The first kind of pottery was earthenware according to Britannica. This dates back to around 9,000 years. Today you can still see earthenware in gardens as flower pots, decorative pieces, and also for tableware. Different types of clay including kaolin are commonly used.

Yet, there is evidence that ceramics date back much further. Archeologists discovered The Venus of Dolní Vestonice in 1925 in Czechoslovakia. This is believed to be the oldest example of a ceramic figurine and dates back to between 25,000 BC and 29,000 BC.

How are ceramics commonly used today?
At first, ceramics were dried using the heat from the sun, but then basic kilns started to be used. It wasn’t until the 15th century that blast furnaces were introduced, and these helped the ceramic industry advance. Over the centuries different techniques have been developed, and from rudimentary pots with simple decorations have come bright colorful ceramic bowls and highly collectible pieces.

Ceramics are used in many ways today. Just a few examples are here:

Flower pots or planters
Tableware
Cookware
Storage pots
Decorative pieces - sculptures
Tiles
Jewelry
Jugs and drinking vessels

The history of ceramics is fascinating. Ceramics and old medieval pottery can give clues to the past including diets of previous civilizations. And basically, anything made with clay which is then fired in a kiln is a ceramic item. But, is it sustainable to keep using clay for pottery and sculpting?

Is ceramic pottery sustainable?
During lockdowns, millions of individuals chose to renew old hobbies or start new ones. One pastime that many had never considered before but suddenly appealed to was pottery. Celebrities such as Brad Pitt not only used pottery as a hobby but has since gone on to exhibit his work including sculptures.

Generally speaking, there are 4 types of clay; ball, earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware. These each have different properties and deliver different results. Therefore, they are utilized in different ways by potters and artists.

Reserves of clay across the world are vast, and the US has excellent quality clay. However, it is a non-renewable source, so one day the Earth could run out of clay. Nevertheless, handmade ceramic planters and tableware are likely to be readily available for hundreds of years to come.

Are the processes used in ceramics eco-friendly?
While clay itself isn’t sustainable, there is no shortage of sources, and it is far more environmentally friendly than materials such as plastics. The process of mining clay however may not be so eco-friendly.

A rare Iznik charger sold for £5.4 million ($6,624,909) at Sotheby’s England. The clay used in this amazing piece of Iznik pottery dating back to 1480 would likely have been collected by hand. But, now, heavy machinery is used to mine clay, and this brings environmental concerns.

To extract clay, large amounts of water are used, along with high energy consumption. Emissions have to be taken into account, and unwanted clay deposited in waterways causes imbalances and pollution.

Clay extraction can also be responsible for deforestation, and other ecological problems. Nonetheless, clay has many advantages over other materials. It is long-lasting, and raw clay can be reused over and over again. Ceramics can also be crushed to be recycled into other products. And while ceramics don’t break down for centuries, they don’t leach toxic chemicals into the ground and water in the way that plastic will (as long as certain glazes are avoided).

How can you make your ceramic pieces more eco-friendly?
If you use a kiln at home, consider investing in one that is more energy efficient. You can also switch to a greener energy source. Many energy suppliers use hydro or solar to generate electricity these days.

Raw clay can be reused, and you can also collect your wastewater, which is often one of the most wasteful areas of pottery. This can be reused.

Lastly, although you cannot change the extraction process used for mining clay, you can avoid certain chemicals used in glazes. Some of the dyes used for ceramics are toxic and damaging to the environment. Search for eco-friendly glazing options online.

Is ceramic pottery an art form?
While ceramics may not be 100% eco-friendly, they are still one of the best options for household items such as tableware. Ceramics are used in art now, just as they have been for thousands of years.

Ceramics are considered to be an art form in their own right. Ceramic art is thought of as one of the visual arts and is used commonly for decorative purposes.

Some examples of ceramics are extremely valuable too. The most expensive ceramic in the world is a Chinese imperial revolving vase. It cost $41.6 million at an auction in Beijing. While most ceramics are not considered fine art (some are) they are certainly collectible in some forms.

Summary
If you are enjoying pottery, sculpture, and creating ceramic pieces, then you can carry on doing so without too much concern for the environment. There are several ways that you can make your hobby more eco-friendly by being more energy-efficient, and avoiding certain chemicals such as copper oxides.

While clay itself isn’t renewable, the world isn’t going to run out any time soon. And ceramics are durable. Who knows, maybe one of your pieces will be up for auction in a few hundred years.