June 4, 2025
Inside METROPOLIS’s Sustainability Lab at NeoCon
On the 11th floor of the Mart, METROPOLIS’s Sustainability Lab returns to NeoCon this year with new exhibits, activations, and resources to help the A&D industry design spaces that positively impact both people and the planet.
This year’s Lab, themed “Material World,” invites you to explore cutting-edge innovations in healthy, circular, and regenerative materials and manufacturing. The Lab’s showcase includes more than 20 sustainable materials and products ready to be specified on projects of all types and sizes.
Special exhibits this year include “Designing from the Soil Up,” a furniture installation by Common Object Studio that merges regenerative agriculture with material upcycling. There’s also a display of Planet Positive Award–winning projects spotlighting breakthrough material strategies.
Meanwhile, special activations from Carnegie, Impact Acoustic, Lutron, and Mohawk will highlight planet-friendly design solutions that also advance human well-being. From product innovations to provocative exhibits, this year’s Lab offers tools and inspiration to make material choices for a better future.
Know New Plastic
3form
3form’s Know New Plastic initiative exemplifies its commitment to sustainability through advanced recycling technologies. By integrating molecular recycling, the company transforms hard-to-recycle plastics—such as synthetic fibers and dense containers—into high-quality architectural materials without compromising aesthetics or durability. This process not only diverts significant waste from landfills but also reduces manufacturing emissions by 25 percent compared to using virgin materials.
Droplet
BIOME
Droplet is the first and only self-watering planter that draws moisture from the air, keeping plants healthy. Its patented technology refills an onboard water tank, then waters plants automatically. Droplet can be displayed on shelves or tables or built into furniture, supporting cleaner indoor air and well-being.
MIX
Calyx by Claridge
Calyx by Claridge’s MIX Contemporary Mobile Whiteboards are highly customizable, mixed-material dry-erase marker boards and tackboards for collaborative environments. The FSC®-certified manufacturer uses a proprietary harvesting and production process, where in-house craftsmen construct MIX’s solid ash wood frames from portions of trees unaffected by the destructive emerald ash borer beetle. Claridge uses landfill-destined ash lumber and integrates recoverable material into MIX’s durable hardwood frame.
Dais
Keilhauer
Designed to use as few materials as possible, Dais provides a design-forward, sustainable seating solution that is both relaxed and supportive. Constructed with FSC® Certified Wood and biobased foam, it pairs a light, airy frame with a generous, oversized cushion to create a unique visual tension. In 2025, the Dais collection is expanding to include a side chair.
Lighting Systems
Fry Reglet
Fry Reglet’s history of trusted metal fabrication meets the latest in LED technology. Its Lighting Systems are specially engineered for drywall, wallcovering, and millwork applications. The extensive selection of industry-leading LEDs includes 28 profile shapes, a range of sizes, and clear and color anodized as well as powder-coat finishes.
Paints and Coatings
Behr
Behr Paint Company continuously improves its paint formulations to reduce chemical emissions, require fewer coats, and enhance durability. Many products are GREENGUARD Gold-certified, and the company’s packaging uses postconsumer recycled plastic with 100 percent recyclable containers. BEHR® and KILZ® Architectural Coatings are now on Ecomedes, making it easy to find sustainability data and certifications all in one place. The walls of the Sustainability Lab will showcase colors from Behr’s 2026 Color Forecast.
PVC-free Products
Shaw Contract
Shaw Contract’s commitment to sustainability takes a bold step forward with its latest PVC-free products. Using the same chemistry as its EcoWorx® carpet tile backing, EcoWorx™ Resilient and EcoWorx® BIO are PVC free, fully recyclable, low embodied carbon, and carbon neutral—designed to support circularity, improve material health, and reduce environmental impact.
Preserved Gardens
Garden on the Wall
Garden on the Wall helps interior designers curate soothing spaces with preserved gardens—offering longevity and material health. Its products meet rigorous environmental standards, including LEED and WELL. The company’s rejuvenation program extends installations’ lifespans beyond 20 years, while the Re-leaf program ensures responsible end-of-life management. The atrium of these corporate offices is adorned with an installation comprised of moss, forest, fern, eucalyptus, and floral species.
Noren
Impact Acoustic
The Noren acoustic curtain champions sustainability through recycled and reusable materials, circular design, and a digital product passport. Crafted in Italy using the company’s Swiss-engineered ARCHISONIC® Textile and made from 100 percent recycled PET (Trevira CS ECO), Noren empowers designers with unparalleled color customization and offers businesses a profitable path to a circular economy. In the Sustainability Lab, Impact Acoustic will create an installation with its Noren acoustic curtain.
ABPURE® Infinity
American Biltrite
ABPURE® Infinity is a cradle-to-gate, carbon-neutral rubber flooring in 20 earth-centric colors. Made with renewable natural gas (RNG) from organic waste, it reduces emissions while offsetting its footprint, as verified by its Type III EPD. By investing in local RNG initiatives, American Biltrite is transforming waste into clean energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and creating a more sustainable future for flooring.
Automated Window Treatments
Lutron
Lutron automated window treatments help save 10 to 20 percent of cooling energy and extend the life of floors and furnishings by diffusing sunlight. With hundreds of sustainable fabric options—including 471 GREENGUARD Gold–certified, 14 Cradle to Cradle–certified, and 115 PVC-free SKUs—the company supports certifications such as LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge. At the Lab, Lutron will show how its innovative shade system can help designers balance natural light and support indoor wellness.
Duracolor® Tricor Fiber
Mohawk Group
Mohawk’s Duracolor solution-dyed nylon delivers color clarity, colorfastness, durability, enhanced soil performance, and fiber resilience. The solution-dyed fiber uses no water in the dyeing process, affording a huge reduction in water usage. It is easy to maintain and features inherent stain resistance with water-only stain removal. It also has 100 percent recycled content when used in products with EcoFlex ONE modular carpet backing. Mohawk’s experience in the Lab, Shared Senses, will engage visitors with the thinking behind its Color Balance collection.
ECONYL® Bespoke Collection
Econyl by Aquafil
ECONYL® Bespoke collection seamlessly blends sustainability with timeless elegance, bringing lasting durability and sophistication to any rug design. The collection is made exclusively from waste, including fishing nets, carpet, fabric scraps, and more, and it can be recycled indefinitely. The yarns deliver rich texture and easy-to-clean performance for contract, hospitality, and residential spaces with three finishes inspired by wool, silk, and jute.
Hyphyn
Hyphyn is the world’s first biodegradable vinyl upholstery. Proven to biodegrade over 90 percent within two years in landfill conditions, Hyphyn is engineered to excel in contract, hospitality, and health-care interiors, offering exceptional abrasion resistance, stain resistance, and bleach cleanability.
Float
Clarus
Float by Clarus is a sleek, wall-mounted glass board available in over 250 vibrant colors, limitless custom options, and sizes up to 72 inches by 144 inches. The company makes its products in the U.S. with responsible manufacturing that reduces waste and emissions. It is also working to power all operations with 100 percent renewable energy by the end of this year. All products feature Declare labels for material transparency.
CLEAN IMPACT TEXTILES
Duvaltex
Duvaltex’s CLEAN IMPACT TEXTILES® transform how products are sourced, manufactured, or disposed of at the end of their useful life. CLEAN IMPACT TEXTILES biodegrade in landfills within three and a half years and meet rigorous performance and testing standards without compromise, while OCEAN WASTE CLEAN IMPACT TEXTILES® are made by combining upcycled ocean waste and recycled polyester. Both can contribute to LEED points for recycled content and materials and resources.
ekoa
Lingrove
Lingrove harnesses ultra-strong flax to make ekoa® natural wall protection. This humble plant is a rapidly renewable rock star and is as durable as it is healthy. Blending performance, style, and free of Red List ingredients, ekoa is ideal for creating stunning walls in hospitality, health-care, workplace, multifamily, and higher education spaces.
WellBAC® Cushion Backing
Milliken
Milliken’s WellBAC® cushion backing comes standard on all carpet tile products, creating healthier, quieter, and more comfortable spaces. Made from recycled materials, it improves acoustics and enhances ergonomics for calmer, less stressful environments. WellBAC is also verified to be free of Red List ingredients.
Bio-based Textiles and Kirei PET
Carnegie
Carnegie is a 100 percent PVC-free company offering high-performing, sustainable commercial textiles and acoustic solutions, including Xorel textiles, 91 percent of which consist of rapidly renewable sugarcane; coated upholstery made from corn; and Kirei acoustics. Kirei PET is made with at least 60 percent recycled plastic—each saving 235 bottles from landfills and waterways. In the Sustainability Lab, Carnegie will showcase new acoustic solutions, including Cumulus,
a ceiling product from sister brand Kirei.
Premium Flooring Solutions
Parador/Matter Surfaces
Parador, the only flooring company certified under EMAS III, offers premium engineered wood, laminate, and vinyl flooring with a modern, elegant look. Its ecofriendly Modular ONE range has the natural beauty of real wood while being PVC free. The company recycles 99 percent of its waste and powers production with solar energy.
HydroTap
ZIP WATER
HydroTap is more than a faucet—it delivers on-demand boiling, chilled, and sparkling water. Designed for sustainability, it helps eliminate single-use plastics and uses 100 percent water-efficient Dry Chilling technology. Zip Water’s 0.2-micron carbon filtration removes 98 percent of lead, chlorine taste and odor, microplastics, asbestos, and bacteria, while preserving minerals for great taste.
Wood Textures
Turf Design
Turf’s expanded Wood and Stone Textures collection brings nature-inspired, digitally printed patterns to its range of finishes. Designed to pair with Turf’s exclusive Hues palette, the collection highlights the company’s mastery of its 60 percent recycled PET felt material. Engineered for durability and performance, the designs minimize ink use to preserve the soft look and feel of felt—delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions without compromising aesthetics.
Beyond
Allsteel
The Beyond® architectural system significantly reduces carbon impact and construction waste through repeated reuse and reconfiguration. Made with recyclable aluminum, steel, zinc, and glass, it offers a future-proof, wellness-driven solution. Beyond® walls cut solid waste by up to 64 percent and lower global warming potential by up to 68 percent over time.
REPREVE Takeback™
UNIFI
Crafted from 100 percent recycled polyester raw materials with at least 50 percent of the recycled content coming from textile waste, REPREVE Takeback helps reduce environmental impact with a solution that is at scale now. By transforming fabric production waste into raw material to be turned into new sustainable products, UNIFI helps address the 92 million tons of textile waste that ends up in landfills every year.
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