Reef Rocket

Reef Rocket by ReefCycle has developed biologically-grown cement-like material that mimics the chemical structure of reefs, re-growing vital material in days that take millennia to form in nature. The production process combines plant-based enzymes with crushed waste, like culinary shells and glass, to grow a mineral glue that binds waste material together.

Reef Rocket by ReefCycle is a bio-cement structure that mimics the naturally occurring oyster reefs that protect shorelines from flooding, filter seawater and promote biodiversity. Nature has the unique capacity to grow durable material without polluting its surrounding environment. Reefs grow to withstand extreme wave energy and corrosive water for hundreds of years.

Mujō

Mujō’s products are made from a renewable resource: kelp, a fast-growing seaweed that doesn’t require additional water or agricultural land.

Mujō is a Berlin-based biomaterial innovation company that develops innovative, seaweed-based packaging materials that biodegrade straight after use, naturally and harmlessly. The company envisions a future where packaging materials of today become the resource of tomorrow.

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Bobby Kolade

Kolade’s brand first collection is titled Return to Sender, and is made entirely out of waste textiles sourced from second-hand markets across Uganda. Each piece is redesigned and redistributed to the Global North, where the raw materials were originally bought and discarded.

Bobby Kolade is a fashion designer from Uganda who started his career in Berlin and Paris, cutting his teeth at major companies like Maison Margiela and Balenciaga. In 2018, he returned to his hometown of Kampala and was struck by the severe decline of the country’s textile industry. Today, he is the creative powerhouse behind BUZIGAHILL, an independent label that brings attention to this issue through art, clothing and activism.

As co-host of the podcast Vintage or Violence, Kolade further examines the true cost of the global fashion industry and the impact that waste colonialism has on local communities and ecosystems.

Matej Fegus

Fergus’s approach emphasizes that design should go beyond aesthetics, creating meaningful value for society, employees, and the environment through innovative business models, new materials, and advanced technologies.

Matej Fegus is a Slovenian entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate of sustainable design and circular economy. As the director of Donar d.o.o., he has transformed the company into a globally recognized leader in sustainable manufacturing.

Fegus received numerous awards, including CEED Global Entrepreneur of the Year 2014, Red Dot Award 2016, and Green Product Award 2018. His work with the Nico Less chair by Primoz Jeza earned the title Design of the Year 2017. In addition to Donar, he co-founded and co-owns several businesses focused on planning, communication, and sales. He was a co-organizer of the 1st conference on Sustainable Design for Transition to Circular Economy.

PIAO CHAIR

The PIAO CHAIR is made from multiple layers of fibrous paper, laminated together by hand to create a lightweight yet remarkably strong structure. The edges of the paper are left raw and uneven, highlighting the material’s natural origins and the craftsmanship involved in the chair’s production.

The chair’s form evokes the silhouette of Ming-dynasty horseshoe chairs—an iconic element of Chinese furniture history. The choice of material is inspired by the traditional paper umbrella-making techniques of the Yuhang District in Hangzhou, where PINWU Design Studio is located.

BIOCARPET

The subject of this artistic creation is an experimental textile surface made from wool waste. By employing woolen fibers and utilizing the felting technique, Biocarpet stands out as a remarkable example of how art and sustainability can intertwine.

The “Biocarpet – Apple Murex Egg Casing” is a groundbreaking artwork that merges the wonders of the ocean with the comfort of home textiles. This unique piece is designed to unveil the hidden mysteries of sea worlds and their natural, often invisible structures through a captivating textile sculpture-carpet.

Our urban environments are dominated by synthetic materials that can feel harsh and unwelcoming. Therefore, the design focuses on integrating tactile and biomimetic structures into the carpet, which highlights key themes such as recycling, biodiversity, and the use of natural materials.

BIODEGRAPAK

Recycling is a multi-step process, involving transportation, sorting, processing, and making materials into new goods. It is difficult to assess its overall energy usage.

Economy is not exactly thriving from all its recycling efforts — because it becomes more expensive than ever to process all of our leftover junk. Biodegrapak is a package designed to be ecological on every level. Consisted of cleared paper pulp, flour and starch and biological seeds. After using the eggs, instead of recycling or throwing it away, the user waters it or plants it so the seeds grow into green plants. The main idea and goal is to create a truly environmentally friendly product.

See George Bosnas portfolio.

Jelena Matic

Her passion for sustainable design has not only influenced her students’ lives but has also inspired new generations of designs to embed environmental concepts and practices.

Professor Jelena Matic is a prominent figure in Serbia, known for advancing sustainability and circular design education. Her work at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, and involvement in the “Young Balkan Designers” initiative has inspired students and new generations to integrate environmental concepts into their designs.

From 2005 to 2015, Matic led award-winning projects, earning awards, including prestigious ones like the Awards of the Salon of Arts, Golden Key of the Furniture Fair in Belgrade, and awards from the Chamber of Commerce of Belgrade and Ulupuds. Her collaboration with the furniture company Simpo in 2010 resulted in four student-designed pieces entering production, highlighting her influence in both education and industry.