Why We Invested: Vidrio Artesanal Xa Quixe
R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund Invests in Glass Innovation Studio, Vidrio Artesanal Xa Quixe, in Southern Mexico.
R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund is investing in Vidrio Artesanal Xa Quixe, a Mexican company inventing eco-friendly processes to create blown glassware of exceptional quality from recycled glass. Through innovations in clean energy, proprietary designs for furnaces and equipment, and engagement of the local community, Xaquixe demonstrates its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its artisan production.
Located in a small industrial park in Magdalena Apasco, outside of the city of Oaxaca, Xaquixe uses waste vegetable oil collected from local restaurants and bars in Oaxaca to fuel its furnaces rather than propane. Using a fuel burner of Xaquixe’s own design, the oil is mixed with pressurized air to lessen harmful emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides and increase the energy efficiency of the fuel burner. The solid waste collected from the oil filtration is processed in anaerobic digesters to produce methane gas which is also used to fuel artisanal processes. By burning the waste oil, rather than discharging it into the sewers, contamination of local water systems is reduced.
Similarly, the studio uses waste glass from discarded bottles and jars collected in the local community and from restaurants and hotels in Oaxaca. After labels, caps and lids are removed, the glass is washed without detergents or chemicals using water from the studio’s rainwater harvesting system. After being crushed, the glass is mixed with 3% to 5% of raw materials to increase its transparency and brilliance while incorporating metallic minerals to create color. This formulated glass is then loaded into the melting furnace at 1300º C. Xaquixe has specific formulations of glass depending on the production technique, such as casting or pressing, and what is being produced from tableware to large artistic pieces.
Through innovations in clean energy, proprietary designs for furnaces and equipment, and engagement of the local community, Xaquixe demonstrates its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its artisan production.
Master glassmakers collect the molten glass in layers on blow pipes and then mold the glass to achieve the final product while constantly reheating the glass in furnaces at 1300º C. Xaquixe's furnaces are interconnected with multi-stage heat recovery systems to reduce energy consumption and enhance the combustion of the waste vegetable oil. Once the final piece is complete, it is fire polished and placed in a computer-controlled tempering furnace to slowly lower its temperature over 10 to 24 hours increasing the strength and stability of the glass. A quality check is the final step once the glass is at room temperature.
Xaquixe’s founders Christian Thornton and Salime Harp Cruces have trained 30 local men and women to become master glassmakers. In addition to producing for Xaquixe, these artisans have the opportunity to produce their own work for display at Xaquixe’s studio and gallery in downtown Oaxaca.
The Xaquixe team recycles 1000 liters of waste vegetable oil weekly into 732 kilowatts of energy to maintain the reheating furnaces and transforms 1110 kilos of trash glass into products that are 95% recycled glass each month.
Established in 2002, Xaquixe is a pioneer in the use of renewable energy to heat its furnaces and the development of proprietary glass formulations using 97% recycled glass.
Xaquixe also supports the dissemination of sustainable technologies in Oaxaca through its non-profit arm, Procesos Proambientales Xaquixe. PPX is a skills training center, consultancy and prototype lab to help local small-scale producers of mezcal, ceramics and glass adopt clean energy technologies based on local systems and resources for their production.
The ceramic kilns developed in collaboration with the Ruiz Lopez Workshop, a ceramic workshop in Santa Maria Aztompa, reduced firewood consumption 50% as well as a 30% reduction in operational costs with the increase in energy efficiency. The multi-combustion burner of the kiln also enabled firing at the higher temperatures needed for the lead-free glazes necessary for food-safe table and cookware opening new market opportunities for the ceramic artisans.
“Our work is based on a holistic system view,” explained Christian Thornton, “We look for innovative and far-reaching solutions to local energy challenges, constantly observing, analyzing and asking ourselves how waste from a given process can be transformed into energy for a new or different one.”
Added Salime Harp Cruces, “We work with mezcal producers, ceramists and glassmakers to adopt and master new technologies to produce more sustainably and have a positive impact on their health, economy and environment by reducing pollutants. Our goal is to activate a micro-industrial network with sustainable communities in Mexico with good management and understanding of renewable energy.”
Xaquixe means "at the foot of the mountain” in the native Zapotec language. The name is a reference to the studio’s location and honors the ancient roots of Oaxaca which is surrounded by mountains.
Established in 2002, Xaquixe is a pioneer in the use of renewable energy to heat its furnaces and the development of proprietary glass formulations using 97% recycled glass. Along with teaching young people from the local community the techniques of glassmaking, these artisans learn the welding, plumbing and metal working skills needed to build and maintain the studio’s furnaces and equipment. Not only does Xaquixe produce glass of exceptional quality, it serves as an example of how a business can be socially and environmentally responsible in its production.
An initiative of Sprout Enterprise®, the R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund invests in artisan enterprises creating sustainable livelihoods for rural communities with few economic alternatives. Women’s empowerment, sustainability and clean energy innovation are key investment themes of the fund.
Named as one of the Transformative 25 Funds in 2022 and 2021, R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund has been recognized by Integrated Capital Investing for transforming finance to benefit people and the planet.
For more information, please contact us or visit:
Xaquixe www.xaquixe.mx
R.I.S.E. Artisan Fund www.riseartisan.fund
Sprout Enterprise® www.sproutenterprise.net
