naturally sourced Archive

«A material waiting for its own language»: Webb Yates, building with stone

Working with natural materials – «What would the retro-futuristic extension of the Tudor era be? ». Steve Webb goes back to the fork of the road where we went wrong in the construction industry

Matilde Moro

Slow fashion and electronic e-waste – an endeavor towards the jewelry industry

Ashley Heather, founder of AuTerra, walks us through the philosophy behind a model of jewelry production that aims to return to a concept of ‘slow fashion’

Nina Purton

Range of biosynthetic expands to microbially fermented protein materials – Spiber yarn

Spiber Inc. is a Japanese biotechnology company developing synthetic protein material via a microbial fermentation process, that uses sugars

Martina Tondo

Forest Stewardship Council looking into the supply chain — from fiber to fashion

The other side of the environmental aspect, in which FSC is looking into if the forest is safeguarding biodiversity and protecting water resources connected to the forest

Oliver Dahle

Carbon-insetting through low-emission materials: a game plan by Ganni

Through ‘Fabrics of the Future,’ Ganni hopes to collaborate with five new low-emission fibre innovators per year. This year’s line-up includes: Stem, Mylo, Circulose among others

Aarushi Saxena

The circular economy of cork, from green building to furniture

Fireproof, lightweight, durable – the second life of cork – Amorim Cork recovers and puts cork waste back into the economic circuit. Interview with Carlos Veloso dos Santos

Andrea Valbusa

Reducing microplastics – could or could not hybrid fiber be a viable solution?

Blending recycled polyester and natural hemp fibers together – are brands able to produce a more eco-friendly alternative to the workout clothes?

Lara Brent

The Hedonist, Ex Nihilo. A fragrance that features new compounds, made with enzymes: Akigalawood

The perfume industry is developing synthetic molecules with biochemists and bioengineers working to develop biosynthetic methods of producing fragrant compounds

Matteo Mammoli

Plant a Million Corals: coral reef restoration foundation by Dr. David Vaughan

With over forty years of experience in aquaculture, Dr. David Vaughan walks us through the courses of action to take to put coral restoration back on the agenda

Farah Hassan

Vertigo 1973, LabSolue. A circular encounter of hot and cold

France claims supremacy in the perfume arts – but Italy shows its creative resources and the production ability to compete. A long-standing pharmaceutical company is an absolute perfume laboratory

Sara Kaufman

How to dispose of nuclear energy waste efficiently to make it never come back

Dr. Henry Crichlow, CEO of Nuclear SAFE, on the patented technology he invented: he believes it could bring the nuclear industry forward on the disposal side

Martina Tondo

Dirty money – Banking on Climate Chaos 2022: listing the banks that are financing fossil fuel companies

In the six years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, fossil fuel financing from the world’s sixty largest banks has reached four-point-six trillion USD

Roberta Fabbrocino

No more synthetics fibers – removing carbon and plastics from fashion

Desynthesizing fashion: old materials from natural and animal fibers may be the answer at scale to replacing synthetic fibers

Christian Layolle

Point William: a peninsula in Canada as an experimental site for architecture

2021 RAIC gold medal Shim-Stycliffe architects have developed a twenty-year-long project, on the same site, with the same crew

Matilde Moro

Perry Lethlean: a first botanical garden solely for Australian native species

«Expressing the love–hate relationship Australians have with their landscape». In conversation with Perry Lethlean, TCL’s managing director on The Australian Garden

Farah Hassan

Desserto – Vegan leather starting from cactus plantations: the upcoming steps

The textile is developed exploiting the state of Zacatecas green fortune, creating occupation opportunity for inhabitants and capturing CO2

Chiara Narciso

The Pirque Greenhouse: modernism molded with nature in the heart of Chile

«Knowing that humans are not your main audience makes it all the much different». In conversation with Max Núñez of Max Núñez Arquitectos on Santiago Chile’s Pirque Greenhouse

Farah Hassan

«The land will look its best when we are dead, but that is life» – The smallholding cooperatives

«The First thing we did was plant a bunch of flowers» Supporting an Entire Ecosystem through a Smallholding and the next generation of organic growers

Genevieve Verdigel

What if we could introduce human waste as a material in the production chain?

Human Material Loop is a project researching ways to integrate human hair as a sustainable material for the industry into a zero-waste recycling system

Martina Tondo

Alcova 2022: Finding the balance with Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima

Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima discuss unused buildings, independent designers and a new bar and entertainment area; at Alcova the location is just as important as the exhibition.

Simoné Esterhuizen

Seaweed harvested from England «a growing reservoir of renewable natural resources

«Seaweed has a large uptake of minerals, which it absorbs directly from the sea». Using these in skincare can help alleviate the negative impacts of the industry

Genevieve Verdigel

Emphasizing the virtues of wood: AHEC and Brdr. Krüger showcase new hardwood furniture

Whereas demand for European oak has long outstripped supply, maple, cherry and red oak grow abundant in American hardwood forests and remain underused. Curated by Sara Martinsen, the Home of Hans Bølling at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen

Alessia Tu

Recycling feces: the business case for elephant dung paper

Elephant dung is the raw material for this low-impact paper production unit based in remote villages of the island nation, Sri Lanka

Aarushi Saxena

Cacao Agroforestry: the Cacao tree is a symbol of the tropical forest’s preservation

Every time a tree is burned, its stored carbon is released. The planet is getting warmer because we are eliminating shade. In conversation with Diego Badaro, founder AMMA Chocolates

Chetna Chopra

Blue carbon: nature-based techniques to control the impact of anthropogenic activities

The carbon sequestered in coastal soils can stay trapped for centuries due to the water saturation allowing for a sustained carbon build-up, giving them a role to play in climate change mitigation

Roberta Fabbrocino

Jacaranda, Fueguia 1833. Botany based on the activation of existing resources

«Sustainability is about finding imperfections and transforming them into something that can be used». Julian Bedel, founder of Fueguia 1833, celebrates the richness of South American heritage

Veronica Gisondi

About how to make the alcohol industry more sustainable? Discarded Spirits Co. case

Here is to the most rubbish drink you’ll every taste, Discarded. Made from waste and forgotten ingredients which they rely on as hidden treasures

India Gustin

Flowers – an industry worth at an estimated figure of 64.5 billion euros

The carbon impact from the transportation of blooms, the hidden environmental costs of bouquets in the Western world: the flowers you find in Europe are mainly coming from East Asia

Juliana Norza

Tackling fashion’s waste problem with compostability – Three students from Central Saint Martins

Three students from Central Saint Martins created a fashion film centering a garment made of paper cups, eggshells and cornstarch – then buried it after filming

Selin Hatunoglu

The earth is turning into desert: agriculture must become regenerative

Kiss the Ground – the movie: «Farmers are essential in this. They’re the ones who are working with the land»

Jessica Rawnsley

Khamnsin, Ella K. Sonia Constant and some technologies to empower a perfume

An ode to inspiration in the perfumery industry: women proudly maintain a very strong dignity, even in poverty

Francesca Fontanesi

Bio polyurethane: corn-derived polyols could relay be an alternative to leather?

The added value of the material created through corn is the possibility of making the product biodegradable, if processed without affecting its natural integrity

Chiara Narciso

Experimental vineyard: stressed vines and no mechanical interventions

Jacopo Vagaggini: In his experimental vineyard, grapes are fermented with the least possible chemical intervention, in order to preserve their aromas and deliver a more authentic wine

Francesca Noè

Nature takes over urban waste. What will need to live in synchrony with nature

The Tree Column is Blast Studio’s latest design. Made from recycled coffee cups and mycelium, it is yet another viable option for the future in sustainability

India Gustin

Crabyon – what is this? We are not there yet, but it could be a solution

Crabyon cannot be produced at a large scale. However the large quantities of waste available mean that in the future, it could be a new alternative to viscose

Alice Harrison

Phytoremediation, Lagooning and Phytoextraction: hemp and the power of plants

Hemp as an ideal plant for phytoremediation projects for its tolerance to pollution and its versatility of use at the end of the phytoremediation process

Roberta Fabbrocino

Viticulture: hybrid varieties, cross breeding resistant varieties with varieties of good wine quality

Viticulture, closely intertwined with the land and our earth, is threatened by the precarity of our environment. Wineries all over are being forced to reassess their practices

Anna Doherty

Producing paper from hemp – the case of Hahnemühle using ancestry old process

Since its foundation, the company has been using spring water for the milling of their paper. Producing from hemp fiber doesn’t require bleaching or chloride

Martina Tondo

Dog hair spun into yarn and pre-repaired sneakers: what’s next?

«My aim was to show natural materials that have potential in a product, not to make a sneaker». In conversation with Emilie Burfeind and Matthew Edwards

Caitlin Black

Our thousands of years old glaciers don’t contain water alone, but our history too

Like archives, glaciers store microbiological and viral data that can help scientists to predict our future climate thanks to new knowledge about ancient ecosystems

Roberta Fabbrocino

Is the felt industry sustainable? The case of Voylok shoes made by mono-materials

Made avoiding the use of dyes, bleach, stitches or glues. By-products from production, such as wool scraps and muddy water, are turned into fertilizers for farmers

Martina Tondo

The catalyst for the decarbonization of the energy sector in Berlin: Berliner Stadtwerke

Clients know where their electric power comes from. Although Berliner Stadtwerke is not a large company using eco certificates to provide green power, it’s one-hundred percent solar and wind powered

Roberta Fabbrocino

Carbon sequestration is not a competition, but Biochar is winning. NetZero case

«Many things can be used to fight climate change – biochar is the most mature for scaling and we should push it asap». In conversation with Axel Reinaud, founder of NetZero.

Aarushi Saxena

Urtica Dioica: the sustainable nettle fabric that looks like silk

«Nettle is the replacement for synthetic fibers since it is the most stable fiber in the natural fibers range»

Maria Bellotto

Vineyards in mineral rich volcanic soil: the case of Lanzarote

What volcanic soil can teach us about regenerative agriculture and the role of biochar in nurturing infertile soil

Irene Lodigiani

Colorifix – Tackling one of the textile industry’s most environmentally damaging processes: dyeing

CEO Orr Yarkoni explains how cells can be manipulated to dye fabric, cutting back on water wastage and chemical pollution globally. Water use is cut by 50 percent to 90 percent

Joe Bromley

Vividye converts garments into a blank canvas, enabling efficient recycling and reuse

A deeper look into the complacency recycling has lent to fashion consumers and the nuances that make or break efficient recycling processes; through the lens of start-up, Vividye

Aarushi Saxena

The giant Himalayan stinging nettle — what it means to wild harvest

«Regenerative process means that as you produce, you’re improving the Earth» – how to go beyond sustainability, in conversation with Himalayan Wild Fibers

India Gustin

Fiquetex: crafting vegan leather and fabrics from Colombian succulents

«We use about one third of the energy needed to craft animal leather». Gabriel Moreno, Fiquetex, winner of the Oxford University Best Postgraduate Idea

Francesca Noè

Street style becomes a uniform for climate change, inspired by death

Defining Fictional streetwear: using ‘dead stuff’ and making it into something new, reimagining these materials in their own image – the idea of death runs through the entire project

Stephanie Marie Horton

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JENNA GRIBBON
AURET VAN HEERDEN
NOÉMI MICHEL
JOSEPH GRIMA
LIVIA FIRTH
NAZMA AKTER
EKOW ESHUN
LUCY MAULSBY
DAVID SPRIGGS
REGINE SCHUMANN
ANDREA BARONCHELLI
MAURO MARTINO
ROBERT NORTON
EMANUELE DASCANIO
LISA WHITE
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