Up-And-Coming Eco-Friendly Materials

Breaking news: it’s 2023! And in case you didn’t know, that means that we can only expect more innovation, more creativity, and even more focus on sustainability. When it comes to eco-friendly materials, we’ve probably all heard of a few: the latest recyclable plastic or maybe a slick new compostable paper. But today, we’re here to tell you about some particularly wacky, especially wow-worthy developments in the world of eco-friendly fabrication.

1. Rammed Earth

If you think that name sounds odd, trust us: we’re just getting started. To understand what rammed earth is, look no further than…the original Great Wall of China! Rammed earth is a fancy term for gravel, sand, and clay, all expertly proportioned and compressed. These days, rammed earth is actually a luxury material and can be found in affluent homes.

This material is known for its heat-absorption properties. It can capture sweltering rays of sun during the day and release all that earth-bound heat in the night. Though people usually use it is as a wall insulator, rammed earth also works for floors and creates a ground heating effect.

2. Solar Tiles

You might think you know all about sun-powered roof panels. We’re here to blow your mind: now, we have tiles that actually are the solar panel. That’s right: now you can have a full roof of solar tiles. Tesla has created an option, though there are others to choose from.

Paired with a battery, these tiles can fulfill all your home energy needs. Buh-bye, carbon footprint!

3. Mushroom Insulation

We kicked off this list with earth insulation, which is unique enough. But this list would not be complete without the even more interesting development that is mushroom insulation. A mushroom’s underground root networks, also known as its mycelium, is a key element of a new mysterious material that’s more durable than concrete and fully compostable. Mushrooms seem to be all the rage for healthy living nowadays, so hopefully, this insulation technology will continue to make headlines.

4. Extra Vegan Leather

Now we’re getting into the truly innovative eco-friendly materials. The company Modern Meadow has been hard at work to develop a new material that mimics leather and is also verifiably plant-based. What did they come up with? They created a new Bio-Alloy process, which involves plant-based protein polymers. Partnering with textile and materials supplier Biofabbrica, they used this process to create Bio-Tex.

Touted on the Biofabbrica website as a “sustainable range of responsibly produced biofabricated materials,” these  sustainable materials claim to produce 90% less greenhouse gases compared to traditional leather. As the icing on the cake, it is also a certified bio-based material. How’s that for extra-vegan?

5. Dandelion Tires

Here’s the thing: natural rubber is hard to come by these days due to the dwindling numbers of the Hevea brasiliensis tree. It is presently under threat of extinction and demand is anticipated to soon overtake supply. Luckily, an alternative exists: dandelions.

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has been working with Canadian tire retailer Goodyear and dandelion expert Farmed Materials to make this new kind of tire. If they pass performance tests, they may become a mainstay of Air Force vehicles. Next up…a partnership with Lime to build some floral new scooters! That’s what we’re hoping for, anyway.

6. Steely Wood

…or rather, wood of steel. A new cellulose-based kind of fibrous material, called MettleWood, has emerged. If we are to trust the parent start-up InventWood, this material is 60% stronger than construction-grade steel and 80% lighter than it. Plus, it’s less expensive. So where’s the catch?

There isn’t any, except that MettleWood is still a little known invention. However, it won a $20 million federal award just a few months ago, so it likely won’t be for much longer!

Conclusion: Build Green, Live Green

Eco-friendly materials are the future and the possibilities seem to be endless. We’re here for the creative solutions and the start-ups that aren’t afraid to take risks and reinvent the wheel – or the wall, as the case may be.