Eco-Shell

What Eco-Shell does

Eco-Shell, LP is a family-owned B2B processor of English walnut shells (Juglans regia), headquartered in Corning, California, and operating as the byproducts division of the Crain family's Sacramento Valley walnut farming operation, which dates to 1960. Founded in 1995, the company converts walnut shell byproducts from one of the world's largest walnut-producing operations into precision-graded industrial media in standard mesh sizes from 4/6 to -200, conforming to ASTM Specification E-11, using state-of-the-art milling and processing equipment housed in solar-run facilities.

The company's product portfolio is organized horizontally across eight industrial verticals: blasting and polishing media, cosmetic-grade exfoliant powder, water filtration media, fillers and extenders for paints and coatings, oil industry lost circulation material for drilling, decorative additives for molded plastics, and pet cage litter and bedding, plus a branded consumer sub-brand (Naturally Fresh Cat Litter). Cosmetic-grade products hold EcoCert, Halal, and ASO Cert certifications, supporting access to natural personal care, Islamic market, and quality-conscious procurement programs. Filtration media is rated at up to 99% removal efficiency for oils, heavy metals, and suspended solids in oilfield, refinery, and chemical plant water streams.

Eco-Shell generates revenue through two primary channels: direct B2B sales to industrial manufacturers via quote-based pricing with multi-year supply contracts and free sample kits for R&D qualification, and Amazon marketplace listings for smaller-quantity cosmetic and industrial buyers. The direct sales motion targets enterprise customers including Fortune 500 cosmetics companies, oil industry operators, and molded plastics manufacturers, with global shipping infrastructure. Pricing is opaque (no public price list), and the company operates as a private limited partnership with 11-50 employees and no disclosed external funding.

Name

Eco-Shell

Legal name

Eco-Shell, LP

Website

https://ecoshell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eco-Shell is a family-owned California processor of English walnut shells that supplies precision-graded industrial media to global manufacturers in cosmetics, blasting and polishing, water filtration, oil and gas, plastics, and pet applications through direct B2B sales and Amazon marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Raw Materials

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Nuts, Seeds & Dried Fruit Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Walnut shell media
• Natural abrasives
• Biodegradable filtration media
• Cosmetic exfoliant powder
• Industrial blasting media

Headquarters

HQ city

Corning

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Raw Material Sales: Eco-Shell generates revenue through the sale of processed walnut shell products as raw materials to industrial customers. They supply B2B customers in cosmetics, blasting/polishing, water filtration, fillers, oil industry, molded plastics, and pet applications. Pricing is quote-based, with long-term contracts available for consistent supply.
2. Amazon Marketplace Sales: Sale of smaller quantities of cosmetic walnut shell powder and industrial walnut shell media through Amazon to individual consumers and smaller businesses, providing a self-serve channel for smaller volume buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eco-Shell grows and processes English walnut shells (Juglans regia) at its Sacramento Valley, California farms into precision-graded industrial media sold in standardized mesh sizes from 4/6 to -200 per ASTM Specification E-11, plus custom-tailored grades. Products are supplied to industrial manufacturers in cosmetics, blasting and polishing, water filtration, fillers and extenders, oil industry, molded plastics, and pet applications. The company also sells smaller volumes of cosmetic walnut shell powder and industrial walnut shell media through Amazon, and operates the Naturally Fresh Cat Litter sub-brand.

Product overview

Eco-Shell is a California-based company that grows and processes English walnut shells for industrial applications. The product portfolio centers on precision-grade processed walnut shells available in multiple standard sizes and custom grades. The core offering includes product lines for Blasting & Polishing, Cosmetics, Water Filtration, Fillers & Extenders, Oil Industry (Lost Circulation Material), Molded Plastics, and Pet Applications (Cage Litter & Bedding). Products are sold direct-to-manufacturers in bulk quantities and also available through Amazon for smaller-scale buyers. Additionally, the company offers Naturally Fresh branded cat litter through a separate consumer brand. The company differentiates through in-house raw material supply, custom sizing capabilities, and multiple certifications including EcoCert and Halal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blasting & Polishing Walnut Shell Media Precision-grade processed English walnut shells used for blasting, polishing, deburring, and surface preparation of metals, woods, jewelry, gems, and other materials; available in standard mesh sizes 4/6 through -200 and custom grades. Sold to industrial blasting and polishing operators globally.
• Cosmetics Walnut Shell Powder Cosmetic-grade walnut shell powder used as a natural exfoliant in skincare and beauty products including face scrubs, body lotions, and foot care products; EcoCert and Halal certified. Sold to cosmetics and personal care product manufacturers.
• Water Filtration Walnut Shell Media Walnut shell filtration media used to remove oils, heavy metals, and suspended solids from oilfield, chemical plant, and refinery water streams with up to 99% efficiency. Sold to water treatment operators, oilfields, chemical plants, and refineries.
• Fillers & Extenders Walnut Shell Walnut shells used as natural fillers and extenders in paints, coatings, resins, adhesives, ceramics, pigments, plastics, and rubber applications. Sold to manufacturers of paints, coatings, plastics, and rubber products.
• Oil Industry Walnut Shell (Lost Circulation Material) Walnut shell lost circulation material used in drilling operations to combat mud losses, wellbore strengthening, and bit cleaning; compatible with both English and Black walnut shells. Sold to oil and gas drilling operators.
• Molded Plastics Walnut Shell Additive Walnut shell materials used as decorative additives and filler in plastic products including countertops, gun stocks, baseboard, cutting boards, bowls, plates, and cups. Sold to molded plastics manufacturers.
• Pet Cage Litter & Bedding Walnut Shell Biodegradable walnut shell-based cage litter and bedding for reptiles, birds, bearded dragons, turtles, and snakes; dust-free and compostable, produced in solar-run facilities. Sold to pet product manufacturers and individual pet owners.
• Naturally Fresh Cat Litter

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 99% efficiency in removing oils, heavy metals, and solids in water filtration applications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AmazonsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEco-Shell sells cosmetic walnut shell powder and industrial walnut shell media through Amazon marketplace for smaller volume purchases. This channel targets individual consumers and small businesses needing materials below typical B2B wholesale quantities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Composition Materials Co. Composition Materials Co. is a direct competitor offering crushed walnut shell abrasive and filter media for blasting, polishing, cosmetics, and filtration applications. It overlaps Eco-Shell most closely in industrial abrasive media and filtration markets.
• Hammill & Gillespie Inc. Hammill & Gillespie supplies industrial minerals and filtration media to industrial buyers, including natural abrasive media used in blasting and polishing. Its product breadth overlaps Eco-Shell's blasting/polishing and fillers & extenders lines.
• Midwest Industrial Supply Corp. Midwest Industrial manufactures and distributes specialty industrial media and dust-control products, including natural filter media with comparable end uses. Its specialty industrial focus overlaps Eco-Shell's water-filtration and oil-industry verticals.

Emerging players

• World's Best Cat Litter: World's Best Cat Litter markets naturally derived clumping cat litter and competes with Eco-Shell's Naturally Fresh cat litter sub-brand in the consumer pet-litter category, sourcing its own natural-input supply chains.
• okocat (Healthy Pet, Gimborn): okocat produces natural, biodegradable wood- and paper-based cat litters, positioning it as an adjacent peer in sustainable pet litter where Eco-Shell's Naturally Fresh brand competes on biodegradability and dust-free performance.

Broad incumbents

• Imerys S.A. Imerys is a global specialty minerals producer serving fillers, abrasives, filtration, and functional additives markets. It is a broad incumbent overlapping Eco-Shell's fillers & extenders and blasting media exposure from the larger industrial minerals platform side.
• Specialty Minerals Inc. (Minerals Technologies Inc.): Specialty Minerals supplies precipitated calcium carbonate and ground mineral products used as fillers and extenders in paints, plastics, and coatings. It competes with Eco-Shell's walnut shell filler offering inside larger industrial filler and extender portfolios.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eco-shell-lp

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eco-Shell