Material Design Map: open-source database maps sustainable design

WeVux has launched the Material Design Map, an interactive open-source database that catalogs designers, companies, and research worldwide working with sustainable and circular materials. The platform aims to solve the fragmentation of information in the sustainable design sector. Director Teo Sandigliano noted that existing databases are often subscription-based and difficult to navigate without specialized training, and regulations vary by country, region, and city. The map includes geographic tags to study the link between research and local territories, filters for resource type, project status, and developer type (startup, university, design studio, company). Examples include Krill Design's lamps made from orange peels and coffee grounds, and Kartell's Re-Chair by Antonio Citterio using recycled Illy capsules. Sandigliano highlighted the work of Eugenia Morpurgo on 'Syntropic Materials' that analyzes local agroecosystems. The database is not limited to interior design; applications include zero-waste restaurants and edible packaging.