Materials Library

Displaying recent innovations in climate-conscious design, the Materials Library features samples from designers and companies across the globe working to creatively address ecological distress, overconsumption, and waste issues in our society. The range of products represented include upcycled post-industrial and post-consumer scraps, repurposed food waste and manufacturing byproducts, plant-based leather alternatives, and bio-manufactured materials, a process using microorganisms and cell cultures to produce new, sustainable materials. While many of the materials are made with circular design in mind, prioritizing healthy ecosystems and zero waste during the manufacturing process, some incorporate harmful chemicals and non-recyclable substances. As markets for ecologically conscious products expand, it is important for consumers to be aware of greenwashing and to carefully research how a material is produced.