Promotion: US material sample brand Material Bank is launching its services in Europe, which will offer European architects and designers "the most sustainable way to search and sample materials".
Material Bank is the world's largest marketplace for searching, sampling and specifying architecture, design and construction materials.
The platform functions as a one-stop shop of material samples, allowing designers to search for thousands of materials, from textiles to tiles and acoustic products to ceramics.
Users can filter through hundreds of brands and the service allows them to compare different products and keep track of orders.
Samples from different manufacturers can be combined in single shipments with next-day delivery. According to Material Bank, this enables designers to save time rather than ordering samples from different websites.
The process also reduces the number of packages being shipped, which has resulted in nearly four million packages being saved, according to Material Bank.
In addition, the brand says that material specifiers can benefit from the service by streamlining their material selection, while manufacturers listed on the site can gain exposure, get their shipping logistics covered and obtain qualified project leads.
"Alongside speed, Material Bank's second pillar is sustainability, which is most explicitly visible in the company’s efforts to reduce packaging," said the brand.
"The consolidation of multiple samples from different brands into one box means a significant reduction in waste – the company estimates that by grouping deliveries more efficiently, it's saved 4 million packages from being sent to clients since its outset."
The company says that the decision to expand into Europe follows its success in the US, which launched in 2019. The platform hosts over 500 manufacturers and is used by more than 100,000 architects and designers.
"We spoke with architects all over the world, and they mentioned that they're spending around 25 per cent of their time asking for samples," said the managing director of Material Bank Europe, Philippe Brocart.
"Material Bank alleviates this time-consuming practice by providing one large stock-keeping unit (SKU) that offers an extensive choice of brands and materials for use across the design and construction industry."
Designers and architects can also use Material Bank's website to create mood boards, which they can share with their team.
"As an architect, you can use Material Bank not only to order samples but also as a source of inspiration," said Brocart.
Material Bank says that in the future, it is looking to expand its Material Bank University Program in Europe – an initiative that is already established in the US.
The programme links nearby design studios that have surplus, unwanted samples with universities. Students can collect the materials and gain insight into the studio's design process and the material's properties.
"It's all about connecting those in the architecture and design community," said Brocart. "The sample is just an excuse to help that happen."
To learn more about Material Bank, visit its website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Material Bank as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.