Kevin McCloud’s ‘Green Heroes’ will return to Grand Designs Live at The NEC, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements from 9 – 13 October 2019. These ground-breaking products have been hand-picked by design guru Kevin McCloud, to showcase the very latest, and finest eco-innovations for home builders, owners and design enthusiasts. The Green Heroes will be on show at the very heart of the exhibition, providing a platform for eco-conscious creators to present their latest innovations to the public, sometimes for the very first time.
As both a design enthusiast and eco-warrior, Kevin McCloud, the face of the Grand Designs brand has prodigious insight into the latest technologies, materials and ground-breaking sustainable practices at work across the construction, lifestyle and interiors markets. Kevin McCloud’s Green Heroes came about as a result of his passion for state-of-the-art eco-friendly products, green building products, and beautiful design.
See below this year’s list of new brands that have been curated by Kevin:
Avocado Seed Cutlery & Straws, by 4eco Limited
Exclusive distributors of BIOFASE in the UK, 4eco, supports this Mexican-based company as they transform discarded avocado seeds into biodegradable cutlery. The first cutlery made from fully renewable and sustainable sources, 70% biomass content. BIOFASE is the only plastic alternative product that is not only biodegradable but also made from agro-industrial waste.
That’s Caffeine, By Atticus Durnell
Design-led products for the interior and exterior made in England from recycled coffee. Handmade in Kent, That’s Caffeine feels and looks like granite stone and because it’s a composite of bio binders, minerals and plant-based resin it is lightweight, sustainable and biodegradable.
This material is water and heat resistant, making it a perfect choice for kitchen and bathroom fittings. These products provide all the benefits of plastic whilst avoiding using toxic petrol-based resin and diverting coffee waste from the landfills enabling distinctive surface finished and colours.
Korvaa, by Avian
Fungus, yeast-based bioplastic and other materials grown by microbes used to make Korvaa headphones, designed by Finnish studio Aivan in collaboration with scientists. Korvaa headphones feature six different microbially grown substances. They were designed to showcase the potential of the technology known as synthetic biology, or “synbio” for short.
Chip Board, by AIVAN
This new material made from potato peel binding agent mixed with fibres from potatoes, bamboo, wood or hops, is biodegradable after use and (unlike MDF) doesn’t contain formaldehyde or other toxins. Chip Board is an eco-friendly alternative to single-use products like MDF and chipboard.
Visitors to the show can also discover products from these other returning Green Heroes:
Noise-cancelling interior material based on spruce needles by EO Acoustic
EO Acoustic’s panels are a natural porous material that absorbs sound reflections, regulates humidity and temperature, while creating a comfortable and healthy atmosphere. The individuality of the material is found in the preservation of the original shape of the needles, which create a natural texture and a feeling of wood in the interior, as well as highly decorative properties.
Sustainable 100% recycled plastic furniture by ecoBirdy
Antwerp-based brand Ecobirdy has used recycled plastic toys to create a range colourful furniture for kids, aiming to raise their “awareness for sustainability”. With an overarching goal of introducing children to the circular economy, all the pieces from Ecobirdy’s debut collection are made from old plastic toys and are completely recyclable.
Disposable Biodegradable Cups from HyO Cup
The vegetable cups could become a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic cups. Squash are fast-growing plants that carry sturdy fruits every season, and once dried, the outer skin and inner fibres of the gourds become watertight. Designs studio Cream has a centuries-old tradition of using gourds for vessels, to create its own compostable cups, using custom 3D printed moulds.
The world’s first active sound system made of clay by Mapuguaquen
Fusing state of the art electronics and craft techniques to create unique, customised pieces, using raw, regional and biodegradable materials.
Design solutions that improve cities and create a healthier environment by Poppy Pippin
Moss Tiles – Press moulded terracotta wall tiles designed to encourage moss growth to improve air quality in the urban environment by absorbing carbon dioxide.
Environmentally sustainable carpets by Vlisco Recycled Carpet Studio
Using leftover and rejected textiles from Dutch based textile manufacturer, Vlisco, Simone Post has developed a line of high-quality, environmentally supportable carpets. Whereas the destruction of the leftover and rejected textiles is time consuming and costly, recycling is environmentally sustainable and also offers a challenging platform for innovation.