Top 5 biomaterial picks: Material Matters at LDF22.

As a materialist at Material Source Studio, the discovery of new sustainable material solutions for architectural and interior projects is crucial to our practice.

So when Material Matters launched its inaugural exhibit at this year's London Design Festival 2022, we were there in a heartbeat - curiosity piqued, and pen poised.

Here, we share our top 5 finds in biomaterial design...

Nature Squared

Nature Squared creates materials and products from responsibly sourced sustainable natural waste materials, such as leaves, seashells, feathers, and eggshells, for application in high end interiors and exteriors with a focus on bespoke items.

It creates employment in developing countries, with manufacture being done in the Philippines by a workforce of 180 who mix artisan skills with cutting-edge technology.

For its latest project, Eggshell/Calcium Carbonate, eggshell waste has been transformed into a net zero CO2, commercially-viable wall tile collection for interior application.

Weronika Wojnarowicz

Weronika Wojnarowicz is an emerging product designer from Poland who focuses on sustainable projects such as creating new biomaterials. The main raw material used in her work is cork.

Cork oaks don’t need to be cut down to obtain the material and they actually absorb more C02 when it has been stripped off.

Dusk and cork granules are used to create these materials - both considered bio-waste from the production of cork. Other ingredients used in the material experiments include casein glue, topas (non-biodegradable), natural rubber and natural dye.

Zena Holloway

Zena Holloway is a photographer, maker, and bio-designer. Her project: Rootfull has been designed for use in sculpture, fashion, lighting design and as a sustainable textile material.

Zena has pioneered a new technology of growing wheatgrass into templates carved from beeswax. The shoots grow over 12 days, and the roots below bind together to create a naturally woven structure.

The project developed by Zena looks for solutions to the problem of plastic polluting the oceans. The materiality of Rootfull resembles the structure of coral and highlights the devastation of the ocean’s coral reefs drastically disappearing.

One of the things we are trying to do with the fair is break down silos within fields of creativity. We wanted makers to talk to architects and product designers in discussion with people from the world of fashion - William Knight, co-founder, Material Matters

Solidwool

Solidwool creates furniture using a unique composite material made from the wool of Herdwick sheep (a breed from the Lake District). The wool is wiry, dark, and hard. It is seen as a by-product of sheep farming and has little value.

The chairs are made in the UK and use locally sourced craftsmanship. The composite material is made in Devon, the ash legs are sourced from Somerset, and the recycled steel frame is made in Peterborough.

Bio-resin is used as the binder and has 50% natural content.

Spared by Volume Creative

Volume Creative is a start-up created by product and interior designers. Specialising in surface materials made from landfill waste, the products are for application in furniture and product design.

All products and materials are manufactured in the UK, and Volume offers a bespoke service working with companies to support them in reusing their own waste. They work with a wide range of waste streams such as food, electrical and construction waste.

They also partner with coastal charities to collect waste to be turned into new materials, clearing up our environment and saving resources from landfill at the same time.

See more from Material Matters here. And drop into Material Source Studio, 1 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4 BF, to chat more with us about our top material picks for your 2023 projects.