The animation showcases the digital twin of one of the featured technologies in the Index: Cruz Foam. Cruz Foam is a biofoam made from Chitin, a by-product from the food industry, made from the shells of crustaceans. 🦐 The fibrous substance is mixed with a blowing agent (produced from bio-derived waste) which then creates the foam structure.

The material has similar properties to Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Expanded Polyurethane (PU) but is home compostable in just three months, making it a great alternative to the harmful (and nearly immortal!) single-use Styrofoam.

As we transition to an electric-dependant society with the rise of electronics, EV’s and new home power supply, the demand for metals, like copper and precious metals, will only increase. Analysts have estimated that virgin sources of copper will be gone by 2026 and 2030, for gold. In addition, many of these key metals and minerals come from conflict areas with unethical working practices. Startups in the business of engineering biology are looking to address these problems:

‍@cemvita_factory aims to use CRISPR engineered microbes to mine copper, gold and zinc from mine waste tailings and low-grade ore using clean, cheap biological processes that require very low energy use.

In the Malaysian jungle, a certain species of plant is being farmed to harvest nickel, drawn up through its roots in a process called 'phytomining' – a key element for the manufacture of stainless steel.

See above for the harvesting gold animation by @jam.finni for Karoline Healy, who is currently researching biological derived precious metals for use in jewellery: @h2erg_jewellery

‍Swipe once for @cemvita_factory on ore-eating microbes.Swipe twice to see the nickel-rich sap bleeding from the hyperaccumulator, Phyllanthus Rufuschaneyi, researched by Anthony van der Ent.

Swipe three times to see the Fusarium Oxysporum fungus which gathers gold nanoparticles: @csirogram

‘Appropriating the Grid’ by @i.rocamrc is a collection of modular furniture which features mined ochre, as well as a mix of soil (we named ‘terracotta powder’) and aggregate (we named ‘faded concrete’). It critiques the wastefulness in the construction industry: the built environment generates nearly 50% of annual global CO2 emissions. As creatives, we not only need to improve the way in which we produce materials, but also rethink the way in which they are sourced.

Various start-ups such as @treeviaforest and Overstory work towards such a scenario, whereby forests connect to smart sensors, remote sensing, AI-driven automation and blockchain to create an Internet of trees that extends the ecosystem into the digital space.

Similar to 'precision agriculture,' this allows for 'precision forestry’, where AI can be specifically applied to the holistic planning of logging and planting. As such, forest inventories can be kept transparently and autonomously in order to inform forestry decisions that must balance economic, cultural and conservation values on a country-scale.

While certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are essential today, we are always on the look out for new standards and practices that may also play a role in securing a sustainable material future.

Mycelium has the ability to turn its own food source into a valuable product. @ecovative has developed a sophisticated method for growing a variety of materials. Air Mycelium, a pure Mycelium-based performance foam, is grown at industrial scale for diverse applications ranging from fashion, to footwear, to food.

As we transition to an electric-dependant society with the rise of electronics, EV’s and new home power supply, the demand for metals, like copper and precious metals, will only increase. Analysts have estimated that virgin sources of copper will be gone by 2026 and 2030, for gold. In addition, many of these key metals and minerals come from conflict areas with unethical working practices. Startups in the business of engineering biology are looking to address these problems:

‍@cemvita_factory aims to use CRISPR engineered microbes to mine copper, gold and zinc from mine waste tailings and low-grade ore using clean, cheap biological processes that require very low energy use.

In the Malaysian jungle, a certain species of plant is being farmed to harvest nickel, drawn up through its roots in a process called 'phytomining' – a key element for the manufacture of stainless steel.

See above for the harvesting gold animation by @jam.finni for Karoline Healy, who is currently researching biological derived precious metals for use in jewellery: @h2erg_jewellery

‍Swipe once for @cemvita_factory on ore-eating microbes.Swipe twice to see the nickel-rich sap bleeding from the hyperaccumulator, Phyllanthus Rufuschaneyi, researched by Anthony van der Ent.

Swipe three times to see the Fusarium Oxysporum fungus which gathers gold nanoparticles: @csirogram