Sustainable Material Trends

After two year’s pandemic break visiting the Surface Design trade show in London was a great comeback, since it is vital to be able to touch and feel new materials in real life.

Image: Abstract Waste by Emily Hatton

SUSTAINABILITY is the key driver in material development, so all selected materials and trends presented below are sustainably produced.

BIO MATERIALS

Bio-materials are an emerging trend. They can be made of variety of sources and combinations including organic materials, organic and man-made waste, and surplus.

Bio-ceramics from eggshell waste by Nature Squared

Pre-loved is biotextile made of textile waste and natural binders by Sarmite Polokova

Waste material by Emily Hatton – casting waste products into an eco resin

Pineskin and Pineresin from tree cuttings by Studio Sarmite

Hand crafted bio materials by Organoid

Locally foraged materials by Hannah Elisabeth Jones

Paperstone from recycled paper by CDUK

Plasticiet recycled plastic from Surface Matter

Fused glass by Rebecca Rowland-Chandler

NEW TECHNIQUES

Raw finish styles produce individual unique outcomes with emphasis of feeling closeness to nature. Hand applied techniques create luxury matte finishes and minimise environmental impact.

Raw earth from clay, limestone and recycled marble by Armourcoat

Clime Hemp finish by Armourcoat

3D printing and knitting glass fibers give more freedom to form new shapes and create new hybrid material combinations. E.g. melted glass is a dynamic material.

3D printed concrete by Cirmap

Fiberglass tapestry by Sarah Roseman

Experimental Materials

CyanoFabbrica by Cinzia Ferrari aims at harnessing cyanobacteria’s intrinsic ability to biomineralize for the design of novel biofabrication strategies.

Turning waste into a new raw material. How to combine waste borosilicate glass into ceramics by Attua Aparicio.

Biofabrication

Borosilicate glass