Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (@WPI) have created a new structural material that could reshape sustainable design. The material, called Enzymatic Structural Material (ESM), uses a bioinspired process to form strong, durable, and carbon-negative building components. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #CarbonNegative #SustainableConstruction #BioBasedMaterials #CircularDesign #LowCarbonBuilding #FutureMaterials

Nailed is a material innovation project by designer and researcher @genevievefkcarr (MA Material Futures, Central Saint Martins). It reimagines nail salon waste as a resource for 3D printing. Carr converts discarded acrylic powders, gels and plastic tips into a new filament. This allows her to create sculptural forms inspired by botanical drawings. The project highlights how synthetic waste can become a circular material for future design applications. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #WasteToResource #3DPrinting #RecycledMaterials #DesignFutures #SustainableDesign #ABSRecycling #UpcycledPlastics

A weather-resistant composite. The main component consists of wood fibre, supplemented with polypropylene. Compodeen by Innodeen / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #CompositeMaterials #Facades

Researchers at the @uofmichigan have introduced a new method to create vibrant structural colour coatings from unprocessed natural minerals. Their approach reduces material costs and makes the technology far more accessible for designers and manufacturers. The study, published in Optics and Photonics Research, offers fresh possibilities for architects, product designers, automotive designers and packaging professionals who work with durable and sustainable surface finishes. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Minerals #Metal #StructuralColour #MaterialInnovation #SustainableDesign #MineralMaterials #ColourTechnology #SurfaceDesign #MaterialScience #DesignInspiration

At the 2025 Lisbon Architecture Triennale, @besleyspresser present 09.ED.15 Redux, an installation that explores a radical transformation: converting asbestos—once a ubiquitous but deadly construction material—into harmless, carbon-negative mineral products with new architectural potential. The project responds directly to the Triennale’s theme, How Heavy Is a City, by confronting the environmental legacy of asbestos that continues to shape both urban and suburban landscapes. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #SustainableArchitecture #LowCarbonMaterials #WasteToResource #FutureMaterials #DesignForCircularity

A local workshop in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, where hard plastic waste is recycled in a sustainable, educational, creative and social way. Sparkling Plastic by @sparkling_plastic / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #RecycledMaterials #RecycledPlastic #ProductDesign #InteriorDesign #FurnitureDesign

Biodegradable and biobased plastics are often promoted as sustainable choices for the built environment, interiors, products and packaging. Yet new research from @radboud_uni shows that these materials are not always as green as they seem. PhD researcher Sara Gonella studies what it takes to build a truly sustainable plastics industry. Her work offers valuable insight for architects, interior and product designers, packaging specialists and automotive designers who face important decisions about material use. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #SustainableMaterials #CircularDesign #BiobasedPlastics #MaterialInnovation #EcoDesign #PlasticAlternatives #DesignForRecycling #ResponsibleSourcing #MaterialDistrict

.@bambulab_official has partnered with the Los Angeles design-tech studio @presq.studio to make 3D printed footwear more accessible. Together they developed an open-source shoe design that anyone can modify, adapt and print. Major sports brands have experimented with 3D printed shoes for years, yet their models remain closed systems. Designers can buy them, but they cannot change or reproduce them. The collaboration takes a different direction by offering full access to the files and workflow behind the product. As a result, designers gain a new tool for exploring digital fabrication and material innovation. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #3DPrinting #OpenSourceDesign #FootwearDesign #MaterialInnovation #DigitalFabrication #ProductDesign #FashionTech #AdditiveManufacturing #BambuLab #Presq