These 8 Dutch Design Week companies are building with the biobased materials of tomorrow By: Teun Schreuder From 22 to 30 October it will be Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. At this event, visitors get a glimpse into the future of design. This year there is a lot of attention for sustainability and circularity, especially in the construction sector. Which companies develop the building materials of tomorrow? 1. RikMakes compost sheets RikMakes compost boards are made of natural fibers and binding agents. The circular designer gets his fibers from organic residual flows such as hemp chips, straw dust and old flowers. These fibers are pressed into sheets of 90 by 50 centimeters, after which it has comparable properties to wood and can be used for all kinds of applications. At the end of its life, the material can be broken down in nature and the fibers and sugar compounds leave behind a fertile soil. 2. Mogu . mold floor Mogu floors rely on a natural phenomenon with applications that we will probably see much more often in the future: mycelium. Mycelium is a network of threads of fungi and mushrooms. Mogu feeds their fungi with low-quality matter, such as coffee grounds and shells, after which the mycelium makes a high-quality material. Mogu uses this material, together with textile residues, to make acoustic tiles. 3. Quick-dried lime hemp from EXIE One of EXIE's products is CaNaDry; dried lime hemp. It is a mix of lime, hemp, a patented additive, minerals and water that can be used as an insulation material. Lime hemp has been sold as a sustainable insulation material for some time now. A disadvantage is only that the mixture has a long drying time. But EXIE developed a special drying tunnel that significantly shortens this drying time. The CaNaDry mix can be used for walls, floors and roofs. 4. Seaweed Plates from BlueBlocks Another natural wonder drug with endless uses: seaweed. BlueBlocks makes fiber boards from the remains of brown seaweed, after valuable proteins have been extracted from it. The boards are made from natural raw materials, free of chemicals and compostable. SeaWood Materials is the result of the Maasplaat research project that once started in Rotterdam. Ultimately, BlueBlocks wants to use the material for stylish walls in homes and offices. 5. Art of 'wierwaar' by Studio Klarenbeek & Dros And while we're on the subject of seaweed: Studio Klarenbeek & Dros makes replicas of plastic design objects from 'wierwaar', a material based on algae and seaweed. Wierwaard is a biodegradable alternative to plastics. At the moment the objects are of true value in an online exhibition of the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum. The exhibition called 'degradation economy' shows the transition from fossil to bio-based through the eyes of artists. 6. 3D printing with sewage paste from Omlab Omlab embraces the 3D printer. The company wants to use raw materials from sewage treatment and drinking water production, such as calcite, cellulose, kaumera, plus water and alginate. Omlab mixes these materials into pastes that resemble clay. This paste can then be formed with a 3D printer into all kinds of designs that can be used in construction. 7. Scape Agency Moss Concrete Scape Agency developed a 'bioreceptive' alternative to concrete: Ecolve. This material consists of recycled residual flows from the concrete industry mixed with a binder that does something special. Ecolve stimulates the growth of moss. For example, walls of buildings store CO2, provide cooling and create space for biodiversity. 8. Prefab straw houses from EcoCocon Strotec advocates straw as a full-fledged building material. The company developed the 'wall system' called EcoCocon. They are panels with a wooden frame filled with pressed straw. An airtight and vapour-permeable membrane prevents heat loss and ensures moisture transfer. What is extra special is that EcoCocon's building blocks are available for building prefab homes. In collaboration with architects, Strotec can deliver homes that can be built quickly, in all shapes and sizes. See more: https://ddw.nl/