5 sustainable materials designers are using from packaging to fashion

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Reading Time: 3 min

As companies are beginning to shift to more sustainable products, we look at the materials they’re using.

  1. Mycelium Leather

    • This type of leather is lab-grown, using the roots fungi utilize to grow.
    • The material is organic enough to be tanned or dyed, making it look like mainstream leather.
    • Mycelium leather is a better alternative to plastic leather, which uses less natural resources and emits almost no carbon emissions.
    • Hermés and Adidas are already utilizing this leather to produce sustainable bags and shoes.
  2. Sea stone

    • A natural binder creates sea stone by grinding wasted seashells from the seafood industry.
    • Sea stone is a more sustainable alternative to cement.
  3. Algae Bioplastic

    • Environmentalists have criticized bioplastics because it requires a lot of land use. Thus algae is a better alternative. Algae absorb carbon, and it is abundant and renewable.
    • Algae bioplastic is used in sequin dresses, raincoats, skis, food packaging, and filaments for 3D printing.
  4. Food Waste

    • By repurposing food waste, humanity is making a step forward to a circular economy.
    • The most helpful waste is seafood seashells that can act as bioplastic packaging. Coffee grounds are also used to create leather.
    • Solar panels are now using produce waste to generate clean energy from ultraviolet light.
  5. Cork

    • Cork is sustainable because it is simply stripped from the cork tree without being deforested.
    • Cork is recyclable and compostable as well, generating less waste.
    • Cork is used in wine, accessories, and most recently, in furniture.
Mycelium Leather sustainable materials

Mycelium Leather

Sea Stone sustainable materials

Sea Stone

Algae bioplastic

Algae bioplastic

Food Waste

Food Waste

Cork sustainable materials

Cork

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