CornWall
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- story by MaterialDistrict
CornWall is a wall finishing material crafted from plant-based biomass. It is sourced primarily from the cores of regional (Western Europe) corn cobs. This organic waste is widely available and usually destined for fermentation, burning as biomass or remaining on the field. CornWall is an alternative for ceramic wall cladding or other less sustainable composite materials such as HPL.
As the CO₂, absorbed by the biomass of the corn cobs during growth, is not naturally broken down or burned and thus retained for longer, CornWall stores more CO₂ than is emitted during production. Since the product is biodegradable or can be 100% reused, there is also no end-of-life waste. CornWall will be supplied with a demountable anchoring system and is not glued. It can thus be removed from the interior if needed.
CornWall® is produced in a sheltered workshop in Antwerp, Belgium. Circular Matters utilises a pressing process to create the products. By heating organic material up to 150 degrees Celsius, the polymers in the biomass activate and form strong bonds, which results in a strong and stable end product. This heating process is electrical, powered by sustainable energy, mainly from solar panels on the roof of the production facility. The production process requires no fossil fuels.
In the future, StoneCycling intends to set up a recycling scheme, enabling the return of end-of-life products. These tiles can then be ground and converted 100% into a new product.
The company will start producing the CornWall base collection – under the creative and strategic direction of Studio Nina van Bart – with one texture, eight colours and two sizes. Additional high-end textures will follow soon. Bespoke options are available for orders over 1000 m².