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

A 3D printed texture that is crafted with recycled plastic waste and robots. Knotty by @the_new_raw / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #RecycledPlastic #RecycledMaterials #3DPrinting #AdditiveManufacturing #ProductDesign #FurnitureDesign

.@Vandersanden_ has upgraded its brick factory in Beek, the Netherlands, with a new steam-drying system. The €35 million investment makes the site the first in Europe to use saturated steam for brick drying. The goal is clear: a faster, cleaner and more efficient production process. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #SustainableMaterials #BrickProduction #SteamDrying #LowCarbonConstruction #CircularBuilding #Vandersanden #EnergyEfficiency

Designers across architecture, interiors and product development are looking for materials that support embedded electronics without relying on carbon-intensive plastics or high-fired ceramics. Geolectric, a research project by @MIT ’s Design Intelligence Lab, introduces geopolymers as a promising alternative. The material offers the tactile qualities of ceramics but requires far less energy to produce. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Geopolymers #LowCarbonMaterials #MaterialInnovation #SustainableDesign #EmbeddedElectronics #SmartMaterials #BiobasedAlternatives #DesignTechnology #MaterialDistrict

A take-back programme that aims to minimise waste by recycling and reusing used carpet. Ege Circleback by @EgeCarpets / More at MaterialDistrict.com #Materialoftheday #Materials #Carpet #Recycling #RecycledMaterials #InteriorDesign

Utrecht has opened its first Upcycle Centre, a 350 m² hub where residents can learn how to repair and reuse materials. The centre supports hands-on work with household appliances, textiles and wood. It also trains people in circular craftsmanship and shows how cities can reduce waste. @jpvaneesterenbv built the project for @GemeenteUtrecht, next to the @hofvancartesius, a well-known circular city lab. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #CircularDesign #Upcycling #ReusedMaterials #SustainableArchitecture #MaterialInnovation #CircularEconomy #DesignInspiration #UrbanMining #EcoConstruction #Utrecht

In March 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar and caused major damage in Mandalay. Yet only 15 kilometres from the epicentre, a group of 26 bamboo houses for displaced families stayed completely intact. @bluetempledesigns, an architecture studio based in Yangon, designed these modular homes for the @housingnow.designs initiative. Their work shows how biobased materials can offer safety, speed and dignity, even in extreme situations. Each home costs about the same as a smartphone. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Bamboo #BambooArchitecture #BiobasedMaterials #SustainableDesign #ModularHousing #EarthquakeResistant #CircularDesign #MaterialInnovation #HumanitarianArchitecture #LowCarbonMaterials #HousingSolutions