The home of Circular Materials

For the Designers, Architects and Creatives, those who are making the change towards sustainability and the circular economy.

circular material library

The current wave of material innovation is transforming our relationship with materials. We are no longer seeing them as disposable items but as valuable resources that need to be used responsibly and innovatively.

Featured Material

Pyrus sample

Pyrus™

Pyrus™ is the first solid wood material produced from bacterial cellulose without cutting down a tree or using harsh chemicals.

New materials, products and examples

Shikada Woven by @shikadasangyo_inc_global is a material woven from sustainably sourced, traditionally Japanese, and 100% natural bamboo and made into products by an expert, artisanal craftsmanship. Shikada Sangyo converts round bamboo with a diameter of approximately 10 cm into thin strips of bamboo with a diameter of approx 1.2 mm to 12 mm. In Japan, the material made by weaving these thin strips of bamboo together is called sudare. Sudare is produced and stocked in rolls with a maximum width of 2.4 m and a maximum length of 40 m. The products are made from sustainably-sourced bamboo that grows quickly and is environmental-friendly. Bamboo also has a natural CO2-absorbing tendency. Shikada Sangyo also engages in regrowing dilapidated bamboo forests in local communities to preserve this essential resource. . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #biocycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomyclothes #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution #biomaterials #biofabricated #biobased #biodesign #biofabricate
In our first post, we looked at what makes algae optimum for next-gen textiles. Now, let’s continue exploring the algae transformation more! 🌿🎨 Take a look at the world of algal dyes and inks with these innovative companies: · MOUNID: Creating climate-smart algae dye from widely available microalgae. · Algaeing: Developing Algadye 3.0, a 100% biodegradable solution for all fabric types. · Living Ink: Crafting jet black ink from algae for textiles, paper, and various polymers. Why algae for dyes? Let’s break it down: Pigment Content: Algae boast pigments like chlorophylls and carotenoids, shaping a diverse colour spectrum for textiles. The molecular structure of these pigments decides the vibrant colours they produce. Affinity of Bonds: Charged groups on algal pigments interact with textile fibres, forming bonds through adsorption, hydrogen bonding, or covalent bonding. This affinity ensures a lasting dye-textile connection. Colour Stability: Natural antioxidants in algae-derived pigments contribute to dye stability, promising long-lasting colours. Stay tuned for the next chapter—exploring algae fibres! 🌿✨ . . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #biocycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomyclothes #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyfashion #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #futurefashion #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution #biomaterials #biofabricated #biobased #biodesign #biofabricate
Cyalith by @deakinbio is a bio-based, low-carbon alternative to decorative and conventional ceramic tiles. The constituent biopolymer of Cyalith is obtained from photosynthetic [micro]algae - the slime that grows on ponds. The production process incorporates the same steps as traditional ceramic tiles, except without the need for high-energy firing and some other energy-intensive processes. Cyalith has a bioinspired structure similar to sea shells, comprised of about 95% (by mass) naturally occurring calcium carbonate and a biopolymer binder. Bio-based resin is also applied as a coating to seal and protect the tiles. The biopolymer is currently extracted from microalgae, but the company expects to source its ingredients as a waste product from 3rd generation biofuels production or other algae-based biomanufacturing as well. . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #biocycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomyclothes #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution #biomaterials #biofabricated #biobased #biodesign #biofabricate
Algae: The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Textile Material and How It Works In the face of the environmental havoc caused by fossil-based materials, we shift our gaze towards the plant kingdom and its untapped potential. While trees are often hailed as the heroes of pollution control, very few of us are aware that algae are 10 to 50 times more efficient carbon-capture machines than trees. Beyond their role in photosynthesis, algae have now emerged as avant-garde materials in the textile industry. But what is the science behind their power as a textile raw material? 🔬🧪 Biopolymer-ism: Algae, especially types like seaweed, contain a lot of cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar made of glucose units, which give algae fibre strength and durability. Algae also contain alginates—salts of alginic acid—that lend flexibility and texture to the fabric with their gel-forming and thickening properties. Renewability: Algae grow fast, way faster than traditional textile crops like cotton. They need less water and land and can even grow in diverse environments like non-arable land and wastewater. Thus, algae help cut down on the competition for resources. Biodegradability: As these bio-based fibres naturally decompose, they are kinder to the environment than synthetic materials that stick around for a long time. Continue reading the full post on our site.. Link in bio . . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #biocycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomyclothes #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyfashion #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #futurefashion #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution #biomaterials #biofabricated #biobased #biodesign #biofabricate
Circular Terrazzo by @chryssa_kotoula is a material composed of reclaimed ceramic studio waste. The projects aims to create a circular version of terrazzo while repurposing surplus glaze remnants. The process involves various stages and techniques, including slipcasting to create tiles of different dimensions. During the research phase, the artist experimented with firing temperatures, discovering that lower temperatures retained the original glaze form, resembling a terrazzo finish, while higher temperatures resulted in a unique marble effect as the glazes melded more extensively with the clay. . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #techcycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #recycledmaterials r #systemdesign #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #futurefashion #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution
Made from waste! Newspaperwood is a timber like material derived from recycled newspapers. . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #techcycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #recycledmaterials r #systemdesign #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #futurefashion #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution
Gescol is a recycled material made from 100% polyester that is recovered from shoe soles. Used and end-of-life shoe soles are collected from manufacturers and transported to the recovery facility. These soles are then transformed into panels, blocks and additives. Gescol designs its materials for non-structural, modular construction with a high aesthetic component. By @gescol.com.co . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #techcycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #recycledmaterials r #systemdesign #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #futurefashion #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution
Made from waste! @tomtex.co is a biobased leather-like material made from 100% bio-based ingredients. The innovative circular material is derived from waste seashells, wasted coffee grounds and natural colours, all without the need for a backing material or the tanning process. . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #techcycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #recycledmaterials r #systemdesign #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #futurefashion #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution
Troldtekt acoustic panels are made from 100% natural materials The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold material is used in most building types and is made of cement-bound wood wool board. . . . . #circularmateriallibrary #circularmaterials #circulardesign #biocycle #circulardesigner #circulardesigners #circulardesignguide #circulardesignstrategies #circulardesignthinking #circulareconomy #circulareconomyclothes #circulareconomydesign #circulareconomyplastic #closedloop #closedloopsystem #systemsthinking #circulardesignco #sustainablematerials #newmaterials #materialrevolution #materialinnovation #4thindustrialrevolution #biomaterials #biofabricated #biobased #biodesign #biofabricate

In a circular economy, waste becomes a resource, and the effective use of materials is the key to creating a sustainable future for our planet.