Partner in the spotlight: Circular Matters
Any lover of interior design knows that the finish of a kitchen cabinet can make or crack a kitchen. In The Exploded View: Beyond Building, Circular Matters therefore provided the plant-based panels. "With our innovative material, we offer an answer to the health and environmental problems linked to the toxic resins in classic panel materials and the microplastics found in fossil plastics," states founder Pieter Dondeyne.
By-product becomes raw material
Every year, large quantities of plant by-products are created in the food and green sector. Those by-products are given a second life by Circular Matters. They serve as raw material for a new type of natural plastic that is fully biogbased, local and circular. About 10 kilograms of solid grain residues remain per barrel of beer, for example. These are transformed into the 'glue' that holds the panel's fibres together. Those fibres come from grass clippings, for example.
As the raw materials are completely natural, the panels can simply be composted at the end of their useful life. Moreover, depending on the raw materials and processing methods, the end result may look different or have different properties.
Sustainable production process
Besides panels, Circular Matters also makes plant-based wall tiles. "An ecological alternative to classic ceramic tiles," says Pieter. "The raw materials come partly from France and partly from Belgium. The main ingredient is empty corn cobs, left over after the corn kernel has been removed. We also use raw materials that come from biofuel production, for example."
"The temperatures we need are ten times lower than typical temperatures for firing tiles"
- Pieter Dondeyne
The production process is also as sustainable as possible, Pieter explains: "The tiles are so hard and solid because of the natural bonds formed by pressure and temperature. The temperatures we need are ten times lower than typical temperatures for firing tiles. Moreover, we generate all that energy with green electricity from solar panels from our roof."