10 Eco-Friendly Materials Revolutionizing Sustainability in 2025
As the demand for sustainable solutions grows, 2025 is set to spotlight materials that are not just environmentally friendly but also innovative game-changers. Moving beyond popular options like bamboo and recycled plastic, this article highlights transformative materials revolutionizing industries worldwide.
1
Hempcrete
An eco-friendly biocomposite made from hemp hurds mixed with lime, offering excellent insulation, carbon absorption, and durability for construction applications. At Texas A&M University, researchers are pioneering the use of 3D printing technology to build structures with Hempcrete. This innovative effort is part of the HESTIA program (Harnessing Emissions into Structures Taking Inputs from the Atmosphere), which seeks to enhance carbon storage in buildings. The goal is to create carbon sinks that absorb more carbon from the environment than what is emitted during the construction process.
2
Mycelium
This biodegradable material is grown from mushroom roots and used for packaging, furniture, and even structural components.
MycoWorks engineers mycelium cells to create Fine Mycelium™ with superior strength, durability, and performance. The leather-like material is an alternative to animal and synthetic leather.
Mycocrete is an innovative construction material derived from a paste made of mycelium. When dried, this mycelium transforms into a robust, lightweight substance ideal for multiple building applications. In addition to its impressive strength, mycelium offers resistance to fire, water, and mold, with excellent acoustic and thermal insulation properties. It boasts a minimal carbon footprint and lower environmental impact, making it highly economical, eco-friendly, and biodegradable.
Ecovative custom-molded insulating protective packaging solution with MycoComposite™ technology is 100% home and marine compostable at the end of use.
3
Seaweed
Photo Credit | SMARTFIBER
A renewable & regenerative material with a versatile range, SeaCell has created a textile made from seaweed and cellulose with antibacterial properties, perfect for clothing and home textiles.
Ecoware creates seaweed-based packaging turned into cups, sachets & wrappings that are edible, biodegradable, home compostable, & water soluble.
4
Algae
Replacing petroleum-derived plastics, algae-based plastics are compostable and versatile across industries like packaging and cosmetics.
Seaflora is the world’s first USDA certified organic seaweed skincare line, hand-harvesting seaweed while protecting the coastlines, forests, and wildlife.
Veerah NewYork is a footwear company that uses algae for sneaker-like cushioned support. Each pair saves 11 gallons of filtered water & keeps 8 balloons of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
5
Concrete (CEM)
Alternatives
EcoConcrete is an eco-friendly concrete alternative by YTL Cement, integrating recycled materials to reduce waste and natural resources. It is engineered to absorb CO2.
Another alternative is GreenJams Agrocrete made from leftover plant material that sequesters carbon into the concrete.
Respyre alternative grows moss after the concrete has set for a green finish that promotes biodiversity, absorbs carbon and other fine particulates to improve air quality, and enhances urban aesthetics, doing away with the concrete jungle.
6
Recycled Fabrics
Post-consumer denim & fabric waste is repurposed into furniture, high-performing insulation, and building blocks for homes and buildings. FabBRICK reinvents construction materials by recycling discarded textiles into insulating, structural, and aesthetic building materials. The brick has mechanical resistance almost like a concrete block, plus acoustic and thermal insulating qualities, and is fire resistant. The brick is made into furniture or partition walls and the color is determined by the recycled textiles used.
7
Banana Fiber
This strong and biodegradable fiber is gaining traction in textiles, ropes, and paper products. Extracted from banana plants, TEXFAD transforms banana waste, pseudo stems, and other waste materials into handwoven textiles. Green Banana Paper recycles locally sourced banana trees into durable and eco-friendly paper products. Aiya ayiA uses woven banana fabric for the dust bags of their luxury handbag collection.
8
Rice Husk
Rice hulls or husks are part of the rice seed, the hard protective coverings of the grains. It is removed to reveal whole rice grain and transformed into furniture, building materials, insulation, biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and more.
Indowud NFC (Natural Fibre Composite Board) uses agricultural husk to create an eco-friendly form of wood to replace plywood. Unlike plywood, NFC can be molded and shaped into any form for furniture, as well as exterior applications. It can withstand any climatic condition and can be used in place of GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete).
Upper Canada Forest Products upcycles and revolutionizes rice hulls into material that looks and feels like wood but can be cut, curved, shaped, and molded to fit countless interior and exterior applications.
Huskup makes reusable cups made from rice husk that are naturally resistant to moisture and GMO-free.
9
Cork
Cork is quite versatile with many applications. It has gained traction in textiles as an alternative to animal leather, especially in handbags and accessories. Here are some other applications you may not have heard of.
French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance created an incredible furniture collection called ‘Burnt Cork’ gradiating textures.
Granorte uses cork for flooring and wall tiles with a range of finishes that range from raw to textured to 3D, providing a different look and feel from other materials.
Photo Credit | GRANORTE
Architect José Manuel Carvalho Araújo uses cork to design the Tumbler, a multi-functional piece that transforms into a chair, side table, bench seat, storage unit, bookshelf, center table, or lounger for a tailored, modern aesthetic.
Scoria uses cork as an eco-friendly & healthier alternative to plastic yoga mats & blocks.
10
Sea & Oyster Shells
Recycled shells can be made into tiles using a variety of materials, including cement, resin, and binders.
EcoShell by Yingfei Zhuo transforms discarded oyster shells and fish bones into durable exterior tiles. Naturally resistant to salt corrosion from seawater and wind, making them ideal for coastal applications. The tiles can replace certain exterior paint or cladding materials while enhancing the durability and aesthetics of a building. Textures and color can be customized, with molds changed to create unique & aesthetically pleasing surfaces.
Sea Stone by New Tab 22 repurposes discarded seashells into new material with an aesthetic stone like texture. Natural, non-toxic ingredients and binders, shells are processed, ground and mixed with various natural binders to create decorative tiles and interior products such as mirrors, wall decorations, vases and more.
Exploration of eco-friendly materials highlights an exciting shift in sustainable practices set to redefine industries. From Hempcrete's carbon-absorbing capabilities to the versatility of mycelium and seaweed, innovative alternatives are emerging that mitigate environmental impact and enhance performance across various applications. The rise of algae-based plastics, concrete alternatives, recycled fabrics, and agricultural waste showcases a concerted effort to rethink materials and harness nature's resources responsibly. As we prioritize sustainability, these transformative materials pave the way for a greener future, emphasizing the importance of creativity and innovation in addressing global challenges. Integrating eco-friendly materials fosters a more sustainable world, reducing waste and promoting a healthier planet for future generations.
