4 New Products and Materials From Salone that Prioritize Circular Design

ABC Tiles by Seastex

Material innovators interested in scaling up the production of readily available, minimally processed materials such as hemp, mycelium, and wood fiber can now add a new option to the mix—mussel beards. Known as byssus, these inedible natural fibers are created by bivalve mollusks to anchor themselves to objects and each other. London-based Seastex uses clean technologies to redirect mussel waste products from landfills and repurpose them into circular, safe, and sustainable materials. One such application is for the core of their ABC acoustic tiles, which will be available globally at the start of next year. Initial ISO and BSI testing indicates that byssus threads demonstrate better properties compared to traditional materials while maintaining a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The material is also fire-retardant, offers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation values, and is 100 percent renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. And, as part of their circular business model, Seastex offers a free collection service and compensates for the recovered byssus.

Seastex.com

Polygood by The Good Plastic Company

Repurposing what is already in our post-industrial waste streams is another approach to circular design. Hello, Earth Speaking, an installation featuring an anthropomorphized globe, was created by The Good Plastic Company in collaboration with StudioXAG entirely from the company’s Polygood material of 100 percent recycled and recyclable plastic panels. Offering Cradle to Cradle Bronze certification and an Environmental Product Declaration, this 100 percent circular alternative to conventional surfacing materials is composed of recycled refrigerator and freezer insulation, household electronics, CD disk cases, single-use cutlery, toys, games, cables, acoustic panels, and tubing. At the end of its useful life, the company offers a free take-back program that recycles sold panels for future projects. The company currently operates across eight locations with two factories in Europe, with a significant expansion in North America planned to begin in 2024.

polygood.com

Earthic by Silestone XM by Cosentino

Spanish surfacing brand Cosentino and Milan-based design studio Formafantasma used ethereal music, videos, and piles of raw materials to preview the Earthic by Silestone XM collection at an immersive installation at Teatro Gerolamo near the Duomo. Embodying a shared vision by the brand and studio to prioritize ethical production processes, Earthic is composed of premium minerals and recycled materials with significantly less silica than traditional engineered stone. Available in the U.S. in mid-May, the surfacing marks the first release of Silestone XM Mineral Hybriq Surfaces, a new category produced with a maximum of 10 percent crystalline silica content, a minimum of 20 percent recycled materials, 99 percent recycled water, and 100 percent renewable electric energy. While there is not a take back program currently in place, it is something the company is exploring. 

cosentino.com

Alder Collection by Mater

Prolific Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola collaborated with Mater on the Alder Collection, the first collection from the Danish brand produced in the biodegradable Matek material. Made from a recycled bioplastic binder mixed with either coffee shell waste or wood fiber, the arboreal shaped collection is suited for indoor or outdoor use and is supported by a 94 percent recycled steel frame for additional strength and durability. Produced in a facility powered by 100 percent hydropower, Alder includes two lounge tables in oval and square shapes, a side table, and a stool, available in four neutral colors. Designed for disassembly, each component can be upcycled into new production cycles through Mater’s take-back system.

materusa.com

Would you like to comment on this article? Send your thoughts to: [email protected]

• Manufacturing

• Bio-based Materials
• Circularity in products
• COURTESY THE MANUFACTURERS
• Healthy Materials
• Rita Catinella Orrell
• Rita Orrell