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

A ready-to-use ecological paint that gives walls a concrete look. Betonlook paint by @Betonlook.nl / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Paint #InteriorDesign #HealingEnvironment #Coatings

Flax fibres are gaining interest in composite design because they are bio-based, lightweight, and have a lower environmental impact than many synthetic alternatives. Yet challenges such as cost, moisture sensitivity, and high resin uptake have slowed their wider use. The Belgian company BIOFIBIX developed Hypermat to address these limitations and to make flax reinforcements easier to integrate into existing composite processes. Hypermat targets sectors where designers look for lighter, more sustainable materials, including mobility, sports and leisure, marine, and product design. In these fields, natural fibres can offer an alternative to carbon and glass composites when full structural performance is not required. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Flax #FlaxComposites #BiobasedMaterials #SustainableMaterials #MaterialInnovation #CompositeDesign #NaturalFibres #LightweightDesign #CircularDesign #EcoDesign #MaterialScience