The lighting system Mod-U combines an eggshell composite, PLA-coated Unryu paper and plywood in a modular lighting design by Melbourne-based designer @joanneodisho. The project demonstrates how designers can use waste-derived, biobased and renewable materials in contemporary lighting products. Odisho selected these materials as alternatives to conventional plastic components. Together, they create a lightweight structure with a lower environmental impact. The project also highlights how material innovation can support more circular product design. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #ModularLighting #EggshellComposite #BiobasedMaterials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #SustainableDesign #LightingDesign #ProductDesign #PLA #RenewableMaterials #WasteToResource #MaterialDistrict

Thin-format façade elements that combine the traditional aesthetics of hand-moulded bricks with a modern, resource-efficient production process. EcoLine Brick Slips by @wienerbergernederland / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Bricks #Facades #Architecture

Researchers at the @kitkarlsruhe are developing a concrete material that could lower construction-related emissions while permanently storing carbon dioxide. The work is part of the European C-SINC project, which brings together research and industry partners from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Concrete remains the most widely used building material worldwide, but the cement it contains is responsible for a significant share of global carbon emissions. Cement clinker, a key component of Portland cement, accounts for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions. These emissions arise from both the energy-intensive manufacturing process and the chemical conversion of limestone during clinker production. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #CarbonStoringConcrete #LowCarbonConcrete #SustainableConstruction #CircularConstruction #BuildingMaterials #MaterialInnovation #CarbonCapture #CementAlternative #GreenBuilding #Architecture #ConstructionInnovation #ClimateTech #ConcreteInnovation #SustainableMaterials #MaterialDistrict

Dutch artist and designer @natasja_van_der_meer has introduced Soil Stones, a collection of sculptural objects positioned between art, design and functional furniture. The series was presented during Milan Design Week 2025 as part of Roots, a sustainable exhibition organised by Masterly. According to the designer, the collection takes inspiration from landscapes shaped by natural processes such as wind, earth and time. The objects feature rounded, stone-like forms and can be used as side tables, footstools or decorative pieces. Their appearance references naturally weathered stones, with a focus on earthy colours and tactile surfaces. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #SoilStones #NatasjaVanDerMeer #RecycledCork #CircularDesign #SustainableDesign #MaterialInnovation #CollectibleDesign #DesignObjects #NaturalMaterials #BiobasedDesign #InteriorDesign #ProductDesign #HandcraftedDesign #MilanDesignWeek #MaterialDistrict

The profiles are manufactured from European oak and consist largely of pre-consumer wood recovered from furniture production. WoodFrame Slim Oak PreConsumer by @Intermontage.nl / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Wood #Profiles #Windows #Doors #InteriorDesign #Architecture #ReclaimedMaterials #RecycledMaterials

The chemical industry underpins almost every aspect of modern life, supplying the building blocks for products ranging from textiles and cosmetics to insulation materials and plastics. Yet the sector is also responsible for approximately six percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers at @ETHZurich are working to address this challenge by transforming carbon dioxide from a waste product into a valuable resource. Through the planned spin-off Teno Bioworks, biotechnologist Ronja Rappold and her team are developing a microbial production platform that converts captured CO₂ into high-value chemicals. The approach could help reduce the chemical industry’s dependence on fossil feedstocks while creating more sustainable pathways for manufacturing materials used across multiple design sectors. Read more MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #CO2Utilisation #CarbonCapture #GreenChemistry #Biotechnology #MaterialInnovation #SustainableMaterials #CircularEconomy #ClimateTech #BioBasedMaterials #SustainablePlastics #IndustrialBiotech #MaterialDesign #ProductDesign #PackagingDesign #ETHZurich #TenoBioworks

Italian 3D printing company @3dwasp has completed Itaca, a self-sufficient farm building at the newly opened Shamballa research site in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The project serves as a testing ground for architectural 3D printing technologies and alternative construction materials. WASP produced the building with its Crane WASP construction printer. The project explores how digital fabrication can create compliant and repeatable building systems. The team integrated electrical installations and radiant heating directly during the printing process. This approach reduces the number of construction stages and simplifies on-site assembly. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #Architectural3DPrinting #3DPrintedConstruction #3DPrinting #AdditiveManufacturing #MaterialInnovation #BuildingMaterials #LowCarbonMaterials #BioBasedMaterials #DigitalFabrication #SustainableConstruction

A lightweight, high-strength thermoplastic tape-ribbon designed for repair, reinforcement and custom fabrication applications. Forj Thermoplastic Tape-Ribbon by @forjribbon / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #ThermoPlastic #Repair #ProductDesign