Mineral Fox
Cluster Connect Partipant
Mineral Fox
Mineral Fox is a Sunshine Coast–based manufacturer developing sustainable wall plasters and renders made from circular and bio-based materials. By transforming waste products such as oyster shells and agricultural by-products into architectural finishes, the company is challenging traditional building materials and supporting the construction sector’s shift toward lower-carbon, healthier buildings.
Business Type
Founded
Location
Enterprise Scale
Target Market
Focus
Background
Mineral Fox was founded by Karmin Kenny, whose path into building materials was unconventional. After spending 15 years working in the global tech sector, she developed a personal fascination with traditional wall finishes encountered while travelling.
The idea for Mineral Fox emerged while renovating her own home as a mother of young children. Searching for natural wall finishes that were both beautiful and safe, she found the Australian market was dominated by imported products containing synthetic or potentially harmful ingredients.
Seeing an opportunity, she began researching historic plaster traditions and natural materials used in architecture across different indigenous cultures. Mineral Fox initially launched as an educational platform offering online training on decorative plaster techniques.
The business soon evolved into product development. Its first proprietary product, a signature plaster formulation, became the foundation for a broader portfolio of sustainable finishes inspired by traditional craftsmanship but adapted for modern construction.
The Challenge
The construction materials industry is traditionally dominated by high-carbon, resource-intensive products such as cement and synthetic coatings. Many finishes rely on virgin raw materials, petrochemical resins and long international supply chains.
At the same time, architects, developers and government clients are facing increasing pressure to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets and reduce the embodied carbon in buildings.
For Mineral Fox, the challenge was twofold:
- Prove that natural and circular materials could perform at the same level as conventional building products
- Scale innovation beyond laboratory concepts into commercially viable solutions for large construction projects
A key challenge is that building materials are subject to strict regulations, which can make it difficult for a new entrant in a highly technical industry to meet existing compliance requirements. Many of these policies are structured around traditional materials, creating a square-peg-in-a-round-hole situation for newer alternatives. Because of this, decisions shouldn’t be driven by cost alone, and there’s a significant opportunity to more holistically evaluate the materials used in construction such as health and environmental factors.
What They Changed
Mineral Fox’s approach focuses on rethinking what goes into building finishes.
The company develops plasters and renders using natural and circular materials including recycled oyster shells, coffee husks, hemp hurd, lime, clay and gypsum. These materials replace more carbon-intensive inputs such as cement and virgin sand.
One of the company’s most recognised innovations is its oyster shell-based render. Oyster shells are primarily composed of calcium carbonate, which are chemically similar to limestone.
Rather than allowing shell waste from restaurants and seafood wholesalers to go to landfill, Mineral Fox works with non-government organisations that collect, sterilise and process the shells. The shells are cleaned, milled and blended into wall finishes, creating a high-performance product while diverting waste and supporting oyster reef restoration projects.
The materials also contribute to carbon reduction. As oysters grow their shells, they sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Incorporating the shells into building materials effectively locks that carbon into long-lasting architectural surfaces.
Mineral Fox’s circular approach was demonstrated at scale through the Circular Sea Collection, which was selected for approximately 7,000 square metres of wall finishes at the Parramatta Powerhouse Museum project — one of Australia’s largest contemporary cultural infrastructure developments.
Program Experience
Mineral Fox was introduced to the Food & Agribusiness Network (FAN) and Cluster Connect through industry contacts within the manufacturing ecosystem.
Participation has focused primarily on connections, industry introductions and awareness of opportunities across the broader innovation ecosystem.
Through FAN and Cluster Connect, the business has been introduced to potential suppliers, sustainability researchers and organisations working with marine-based biomaterials. These connections have helped Mineral Fox explore additional sources of circular materials and strengthen its supply chain.
The program has also provided visibility into grants, events and industry initiatives relevant to scaling sustainable manufacturing.
Outcomes So Far
Mineral Fox has grown from a single founder to a small multidisciplinary team spanning operations, warehouse logistics, commercial development and technical support.
The business now supplies wall finishes for high-end residential projects and large commercial developments across Australia, with a growing presence in major metropolitan markets such as Sydney.
A significant milestone came with recognition from the Queensland Government, which awarded the company a grant to establish in-house manufacturing capability. This will allow Mineral Fox to accelerate product development and expand production of circular wall finishes.
The business is also gaining international attention for its work with blue biomass materials, which are ocean-derived resources such as oyster shells, demonstrating how circular and sustainable materials can be integrated into the built environment.
Sector Impact
Mineral Fox is part of a growing movement to decarbonise the construction industry by rethinking materials used in buildings.
Wall finishes represent a vast surface area in architecture yet are often overlooked in sustainability conversations. By developing low-carbon, circular alternatives, the company highlights how even finishing materials can play a role in reducing environmental impact.
Its work also contributes to waste diversion and ecosystem restoration through partnerships with organisations involved in oyster reef regeneration.
Goals & Vision
With new manufacturing capacity supported by government funding, Mineral Fox is entering its next phase of growth.
The company plans to expand its range of sustainable wall finishes and increase production to support major commercial and infrastructure projects. Large developments across Australia, including projects linked to future Olympic infrastructure in Queensland, present significant opportunities for adoption of low-carbon materials.
Longer term, Mineral Fox aims to scale its innovations globally and help shift the construction industry toward building materials that regenerate rather than deplete natural systems.Â
Advice for Other Startups
Mineral Fox’s journey highlights the value of curiosity, persistence and collaboration.
Despite having no formal background in building materials, the founder pursued deep research, experimentation and tapped into networks to turn an unconventional idea into a commercial product.
Support from various networks, such as FAN and Cluster Connect, industry organisations, researchers and collaborators has been critical in validating ideas, accessing resources and unlocking new opportunities.
For founders entering complex industries, Mineral Fox’s story demonstrates that combining traditional knowledge with modern innovation can create powerful solutions for global sustainability challenges.