Feltwood is turning fruit and vegetable waste into raw materials, with its sights set on manufacturing food trays and other disposable packaging in the future.
Developed and manufactured in Zaragoza, Spain, Feltwood uses a technology patented in Europe and the United States to turn plant-based waste from the agri-food industry into a durable, mouldable material.
The lightweight material is described as similar to wood, but lightweight and smooth to the touch with a fibrous texture. Each item looks slightly different due to subtle variations across the surface, providing a unique aesthetic for every object.
Feltwood can also be recycled or composted at the end of its useful life.
The material is currently being used in interior design via GIRARA, a capsule collection developed alongside Ekohunters.
“GIRARA demonstrates that plant-based waste can be transformed into something new, beautiful and useful,” says Arancha Yáñez, founder and designer of Feltwood. “These decorative objects add value and, at the end of their life, return to the earth without leaving waste behind.”
Feltwood plans to explore packaging applications in the future – providing a compostable alternative to conventional formats.
In other news, RDM Group’s Eska and Releaf Paper recently launched Eska Leaf, a packaging solution that combines recycled solid board with lamination made from fallen leaves. This solution is expected to help the packaging industry reduce pressure on forests and prevent fallen leaves from going to waste.
Meanwhile, iBoxit Limited has secured £400,000 in funding to support the development and commercial readiness of its plant-based biofoams – intended to serve as recyclable, plant-based and biodegradable alternatives to expanded polystyrene.
