Scientists use living skin to create robot that smiles
Lifelike robots could be a step closer to reality with a new development from the University of Tokyo, where scientists have made a prototype with living skin capable of a "natural smile". More
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Glastonbury's Hayes Pavilion "pushes the boundaries" of what bioplastic can do
Biodesign startup Re:Right Design has reprised its demountable Hayes Pavilion for this year's Glastonbury festival, cladding it in a biomaterial made from seaweed to demonstrate how sets can be built without plastic. More
Natural Material Studio turns wood offcuts into biomaterials to "utilise the whole tree"
Danish firm Natural Material Studio has created four biomaterials out of sawdust salvaged from the sawmill of flooring manufacturer Dinesen to explore the potential of using wood waste to make building materials. More
Natural Material Studio crafts entire home interior from bioplastic
As part of 3 Days of Design, Danish practice Natural Material Studio has created a futuristic fossil-free home interior where all the elements, from the curtains to the sofa, are made from the same bioplastic. More
"We have a duty to honour plastics" says Smile Plastics co-founder Rosalie McMillan
Promotion: plastic can remain a useful material long into the future with a thoughtful approach, argues Smile Plastics co-founder Rosalie McMillan. More
Recycled materials will give Nike "biggest impact" on sustainability says chief design officer
Using recycled materials is a better route to reducing the environmental impact of Nike's products than designing for disassembly, the sportswear brand's chief design officer Martin Lotti says in this interview. More
Melanin-spiked bodysuits provide sun protection in Melwear concept
Garments made with the skin pigment melanin provide a natural, alternative form of sun protection in this speculative biofabrication project by recent Central Saint Martins graduate Maca Barrera. More
Seven key installations and exhibitions from Melbourne Design Week 2024
Sculptures grown from arctic seawater are among the projects in this roundup of seven of the most intriguing exhibitions from Melbourne Design Week. More
Recycling "breakthrough" could usher in zero-emissions cement
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have devised a way of cheaply producing low-carbon concrete at scale by making use of waste cement and the steel industry's electric arc furnaces. More
Christien Meindertsma develops linoleum tiles that can be remolded "like playdough"
Dutch designer Christien Meindertsma aimed to rebrand linoleum and establish a new visual language for the misunderstood material with the Flaxwood tiles she has created for manufacturer Dzek. More
Is a plastic-free future possible?
With Earth Day 2024 and an increasing number of environmental campaigners calling for an end to plastics, is time finally up for the 20th century's miracle material? Rima Sabina Aouf finds out if we can – and should – abolish plastic. More
Adam Sheet is a waterproof biotextile made from apple waste
Japanese design studio Sozai Center has created Adam Sheet, a washable and scratch-resistant biomaterial made of leftover apple pomace mixed with bioplastic. More
Buildings "biggest lever" for improving global resource efficiency says UN report
The built environment is the fastest-growing consumer of materials in the world – but it also offers the most potential for improvement according to Julia Okatz, advisor on the UN's landmark Global Resource Outlook. More
The Down-Less Down Jacket converts infrared light to heat
Japanese manufacturer Sumitomo Metal Mining Co has showcased its heat-producing Solament material in a jacket displayed at the annual SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. More
FranklinTill shares nine principles for a shift to regenerative materials
Design research agency FranklinTill has compiled a list of principles to help designers, makers and brands avoid greenwashing when sourcing textiles. More
Coperni unveils Air Swipe bag made of 99 per cent air
Greek researcher and visual artist Ioannis Michaloudis has created the Air Swipe bag for fashion brand Coperni using NASA-produced silica aerogel that was developed to "catch stardust". More
Construction commences on world's "tallest 3D-printed structure" Tor Alva
Architects Michael Hansmeyer and Benjamin Dillenburger are creating a 30-metre-tall tower in the Swiss Alps, which is being 3D-printed with concrete by technology university ETH Zurich. More
"The allure of the 'bio' prefix must be taken with some healthy scrutiny"
Biomaterials have the potential to significantly cut carbon emissions but designers should approach them with caution to avoid creating a whole new set of problems, warns Sioban Imms. More
MIT's 4D-Knit Dress changes shape in response to heat
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers and fashion brand Ministry of Supply have produced a "4D-knit dress", using heat-activated yarn that allows its shape and fit to be altered in an instant. More
Food-waste dyes bring colour to mycelium leather in Sages and Osmose project
Two British materials companies, Sages and Osmose, have collaborated to dye sheets of mycelium with natural food waste, mimicking the appearance of tanned leather and suggesting a colourful future for the biomaterial. More