Products: Materials

For the sake of giving long life to sustainability, here is a cut-out-and-keep guide to material man Chris Lefteri’s installation of new eco substances at 100% Materials

Marmoleum
Marmoleum is produced exclusively with natural materials: linseed oils, rosins, wood flour, jute and eco-friendly pigments.


1. Monosol water-soluble plastic film
This plastic material completely disintegrates when it is soaked in water. Based on polyvinyl alcohol, it is available in a range of grades, from edible films to the bubble-wrap packaging pictured here.


2. Solanyl biodegradable plastic
Solanyl is made with potato starch and peels, essentially turning waste from the massive potato industry into a valuable byproduct. This completely biodegradable plastic material can be processed with standard plastic moulding equipment.


3. Shredded bank notes
Several hundred tons of used banknotes are shredded each year and destined for incineration or the landfill. Acknowledging that the
material could be recycled and put to better use, the Bank of England can supply small orders of up to 1kg, at a modest price covering
postage and processing costs.


Bark cloth
Bark cloth is probably the oldest non-woven textile known to man. Based on the bark of the fig tree, it can be harvested every year in
managed forests.


4. Tennage veneers
These veneers are the thinnest ever produced that can be used for many applications where you would normally use conventional veneers, keeping the use of wood down to an absolute minimum. Available in a large range of wood species.


S2
This composite of wood particles and polypropylene shows many advantages over pure polypropylene, including higher flexural strength and temperature resistance. S2 is easy to process and available in many colours.


PPM
PPM is a 100 per cent biodegradable food-grade packaging material made from starch and grass fibres.


5. Biodegradable artificial snow
This excellent material made with potato starch and cornstarch will completely dissolve in water without any danger to the environment. So whether you are trying to shoot that romantic winter scene for your upcoming blockbuster in sunny California or simply need some decoration for Christmas, this material lets you do it with a clear conscience.


Nawaro foam
Not only is Nawaro polyurethane foam made with renewable materials, but it also uses water as the main foaming agent, which
further decreases impact on the environment.


D3o
A polymer that stiffens on impact, this is used for sports suits, for example, so that if athletes fall over, the material supports the limbs
and prevents fractures.


6. Expancel
The white stuff on the blue cards are tiny microspheres that expand their size more than 40 times when they are heated up.


7. Pachica
This type of paper becomes partially transparent when heated and embossed. This allows light to pass through and creates a nice tactile
quality.


Aerogel
The world’s lightest solid material, it consists of 98 per cent air, and has excellent heat resistance and insulation qualities.


8. Hybrix
This super-light sheet material looks and behaves just like stainless steel, but at a much lower weight. It was developed by Volvo for the
automotive industry, but is now commercially available for other applications.


9. Elumin8
A thin and flexible electro-luminescent sheet material, available in a range of colours. The sheets can be die-cut and folded.


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