Italian technology company @3dwasp has completed the structural printing of Itaca, the first certified self-sufficient building created through 3D printing. The project is located in the Shamballa open-air laboratory in Northern Italy and serves as a full-scale prototype for circular, low-impact construction. WASP founder Massimo Moretti introduced Itaca as a replicable model for sustainable living. The project explores how digital fabrication, local resources and biobased materials can come together in a new construction system. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #3DPrinting #SustainableArchitecture #CircularDesign #BiobasedMaterials #AdditiveManufacturing #LowCarbonConstruction #MaterialInnovation #RegenerativeDesign

Utilizing living plant material—specifically wheatgrass grown within templates—the project explores how plants can be more than just raw materials; they become co-creators. Naturing by @papp_anett_ / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #BiobasedMaterials #NaturalMaterials

Researchers at @epflcampus (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) have developed a safer thermal paper coating made from wood-based materials. The new formulation replaces commonly used bisphenols with lignin and plant-derived sugars, significantly reducing health and environmental risks while maintaining print performance. Thermal paper is widely used in receipts, shipping labels, tickets and medical records. It relies on heat-sensitive coatings to reveal text, but most current solutions still depend on bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS). These chemicals disrupt hormone systems and spread easily through recycling streams, water and soil. The EPFL research shows that non-edible biomass and industrial by-products can deliver a viable alternative. By using lignin from wood and a sensitiser derived from plant sugars, the researchers demonstrate how everyday paper products can become safer without sacrificing functionality. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #BiobasedMaterials #SustainablePaper #CircularDesign #PackagingDesign #ProductDesign #MaterialResearch #NonToxicMaterials

The Ceramic Vault is an experimental architectural prototype developed at the Built Environment Department of @tueindhoven. Students Jan-Willem Melchers, Thijs Maas Geesteranus and Dena Khaksar created the project under the supervision of Professor Cristina Nan and architect Mattia Zucco. The research explores how 3D clay printing can reinterpret historic construction principles using contemporary digital tools. The project draws inspiration from the ruins of the Maxentius Basilica in Rome’s Forum Romanum. Roman architecture represents a turning point in construction history, where material knowledge, structure and expression came together. In this context, the brick played a central role. Therefore, the project uses the brick as both a historical reference and a starting point for material innovation. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #3DPrintedCeramics #ClayPrinting #DigitalFabrication #ComputationalDesign #CeramicInnovation #ArchitecturalCeramics #RoboticFabrication #SustainableMaterials #MaterialInnovation #FutureArchitecture

Meet our Exhibitor: Dekiln Join @deekiln at MaterialDistrict Utrecht 2026 and discover Eralith — a next-generation, biobased tile redefining the future of ceramics. 💡 Eralith – The Future of Tiles, Without the Kiln Inspired by natural materials like seashells and tooth enamel, Eralith offers the look and feel of traditional ceramic tiles, with a radically lower environmental impact. Perfect for low-impact commercial projects and design-led interiors, Eralith proves that sustainability and aesthetics can go hand in hand. 🌱 Why visit? ✨ Discover kiln-free tile innovation ✨ Explore biobased materials with high design freedom ✨ Get inspired by next-generation, low-carbon surfaces 📅 When? 4 – 6 March 2026 📍 Where? Stand A20, Werkspoorkathedraal, Utrecht 🎟️ Get your tickets via link in bio #MaterialDistrictUtrecht #MDU2026 #Dekiln #Eralith #MaterialDistrict

Bracesys is a modular orthopaedic brace system developed by @osteoidmedical. It offers an alternative to traditional static braces and plaster casts. The system uses a patented structure that clinicians can adjust directly to a patient’s body. This allows for on-site customisation without the need for casting. The adjustable design helps improve fit accuracy and reduces fitting time. It also supports better hygiene, as it avoids single-use casting materials. Because the brace can be adapted during treatment, it can respond to physical changes over time. This flexibility can reduce the need for repeated replacements. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #ModularDesign #ProductDesign #MedicalDesign #3DPrinting #DigitalFabrication #AdaptiveDesign #MaterialInnovation #WearableDesign

Spanish artist @cynthianudel has developed Biopainting, a material-based technique that replaces conventional paint with textile waste and natural pigments. Her work explores how discarded materials can become expressive artworks. At the same time, it questions the environmental impact of the textile and pigment industries. Instead of using acrylics or oils, Nudel works with leftover textiles. She dyes these fabrics using colour extracted from organic waste streams. Onion skins, pomegranate peels and eucalyptus bark form the basis of her palette. She then cuts the dyed textiles into small pieces and fixes them onto canvas with a natural adhesive. This process creates layered, tactile surfaces that function as both image and material statement. Read more at https://materialdistrict.com/article/biopainting-turning-textile-waste-into-a-natural-colour-palette/ #MaterialInspiration #Materials #BiobasedMaterials #TextileWaste #NaturalDyes #CircularDesign #MaterialInnovation #SustainableTextiles #DesignResearch #SlowDesign #ColourInnovation #FutureMaterials

Cigarette butts are one of the most common forms of litter worldwide. Every year, billions of filters end up in streets, rivers and soil. Most filters consist of cellulose acetate, a plastic that degrades very slowly and releases toxic substances into the environment. Researchers have now shown that this problematic waste can become a valuable carbon resource. A new study demonstrates how discarded cigarette butts can be transformed into a high-performance biochar suitable for advanced energy storage applications. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #EnergyTransition #CircularMaterials #RecycledMaterials #WasteToResource #Biochar #EnergyStorage #MaterialInnovation #SustainableDesign #CircularDesign