INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

cron-sized network. This extraordinary structure makes it possible to combine properties in new ways, the key to unlocking new design possibilities that can deliver both high performance and greater sustainability.

Moreover, CarbonX is a carbon negative material: the production of one ton of CarbonX can ultimately save up to 66 tons of CO2 emissions in use.

The CarbonX company was founded in 2014 by Rutger van Raalten and Daniela Sordi in collaboration with TU Delft. Within two years they managed to scale up their company to worldwide production.

CarbonX was sixteenth in the KVK Innovation top 100 https://carbonx.nl/meet-carbonx/

VanHier

Building materials from natural residual flows

In the Netherlands, every year around 700 million kilos of sheet material end as waste due to its low recyclability. At the same time, many tons of green waste are thrown away every year. That is why VanHier developed BioM: a sheet material made from natural residual trash.

BioM is a 100 percent natural, mouldable, recyclable and compostable sheet material. It can be used for finishing furniture and walls. BioM is made entirely from natural Dutch residual flows (agricultural, horticultural and natural waste) and fast-growing crops, such as elephant grass.

According to VanHier, using BioM as a building material can not only help with the transition to a circular economy, but also promote local employment. The residual flows are processed as close as possible to the source and the sheet material is also used locally. In addition, growing fast-growing crops in peat meadow areas (wet cultivation) raises the groundwater level to prevent soil subsidence.

Van Hier's initiative took the 24th place.

https://van-hier.com/

Xylotrade

Environmentally friendly wood coating

Xylotrade BV took 28th place in the KVK Innovation Top 100 2022 with an environmentally friendly wood coating developed by the company. Xylotrade focuses on the development and production of wood coatings, which consist entirely of natural and local raw materials. The company developed Fungi Force Biofinish, a fully circular wood coating based on natu- rally occurring fungi. By growing these organisms on wood impregnated with linseed oil, a living biofilm is created, which makes the use of toxic substances superfluous and protects the wood for a long time. However, research has shown that certain fungi on wood do not affect the substrate, but protect it against environmental influences, such as UV radiation and moisture. The Biofinish also does not peel, retains its colour for a long time and has good fire-resistant properties. The biofilm formed by Fungi Force Biofinish not only protects the wood, but is also self-healing. When the effectiveness and colour of the biofilm decreases, it can easily be restored by applying a layer of linseed oil as a breeding ground. https://www.xyhlo.com/

The Bamboovement Plastic-free disposable razors

Five billion disposable razor blades are used every year. Together they account for about 40 million kilos of plastic waste. For the past three years, Bamboovement has been working on the design of a sustainable variant. The result: the world's most natural, virtually plastic-free (99 percent) disposable razor.

In the search for plastic-free materials, they eventually ended up with residual products from the wood industry. This solves two problems in one fell swoop: unnecessary plastic use and the associated plastic waste, but also a new life for waste wood material.

It earned Bamboovement 36th place in the Innovation top 100 2022.

https://bamboovement.com/

Martens Keramiek Facades made of residual waste

Martens Keramiek BV developed Kerloc, a biobased ceramic, 100 percent circular facade cladding. The material is made of residual waste from agriculture, horticulture and forestry, which is petrified in a special way.

Kerloc is produced without an oven. As soon as water is added to the mixture of residual waste and minerals, an exothermic chemical reaction occurs, releasing heat which is sufficient for the petrification process an ensures the material has a favourable CO2 footprint compared to other facade cladding materials. As far as is known, Martens Keramiek BV is the only party worldwide that has developed this process and is already marketing the product.

Kerloc's facade cladding can be completely reused and the company offers a return guarantee so that the material can be returned to Martens after use, which will reuse it completely (and indefinitely) within its own production process. The jury honored Kerloc with 49th place.

https://martensgroep.eu/

Healix Circular solution for discarded ropes

The plastic soup is increasing at an ominous rate. The culprits are ropes, nets and twine used in the maritime and agricultural sectors. Healix recycles this plastic fibre waste into high-quality granulate (solid material in granular form) for the technical textile industry. Healix collects, sorts, shreds, washes and melts plastic fiber waste back into recycled granulate. This can then be used for (new) applications for the global production chain. As a result, Healix offers its customers/users the option of choosing recycled plastic as a raw material for new products instead of 'virgin' plastic that is made from oil, which releases a lot of CO2 emissions.

In the KVK top 100, Healix was awarded with the 50th place.

https://healix.eco/

Tilesystems

Water-permeable paving stones

Climate change causes heavy showers and dry periods to alternate more and more often. This causes flooding problems, because the large amounts of water can no longer be processed by traditional water drainage systems. In addition, less water ends up in the subsoil, which leads to drought. ZOAK (very open waste ceramic) paving from Tilesystems BV offers a solution for this.

ZOAK is a recyclable, climate-resistant, water-permeable paving, made from ceramic waste. Where other pavement stones are often water-passing, ZOAK absorbs the rainwater, ending up in the underlying buffer system, after which it is released to the subsoil. In this way, not in the sewer. Because these tiles and clinkers work like a sponge, which retain rainwater, ZOAK paving gets less hot. On a hot day, ZOAK can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than similar types of pavement. Tilesystems came in 52nd place in the Innovation top 100 with ZOAK https://tilesystemx.com

(See also Innovative Materials number 2020, volume 1.)

IMPACD Boats

3D printed sustainable sloop

IMPACD Boats earned 66th place in KVK Innovation Top 100 2022 with 3D printed sustainable sloops made from recycled material, such as PET bottles and household waste. A seven-meter sloop is printed with computer-controlled precision in 77 hours. The hull is then completed with a whisper-quiet electric motor, cabling, floor, console, sprayhood and flag. A life cycle assessment, carried out in collaboration with TU Delft, showed that the sloops are 74 percent more sustainable compared to the traditional industry standard.

The explanation for this is that the boats consist of recycled material and that they are also fully recyclable at the end of their technical life cycle. The sloops are equipped with a quiet, powerful and, above all, clean electric motor, making them in- dependent on fossil fuels and therefore do not pollute nature and the environment with liquids such as oil, petrol or diesel. (See also Innovative Materials 2021 volume 3.) https://impacdboats.com/

Drystack

Dry stacking of bricks https://drystack.nl/

Drystack is a new method of bricklaying: a construction method in which structures are built from bricks without mortar to attach them. According to the manufacturer, Drystack is a solution for circular construction with minimal CO2 emissions. Each Drystack brick has eight holes at the top and bottom. A plastic strip with studs is placed over these holes, which fit exactly into these gaps, making it easy to stack the bricks without using mortar.

This gave Drystack 68th place in the Innovation top 100 2022. (See also Innovative Materials 2020 volume 1.)

Cyclups Creation

The new non-plastic https://cyclups.com/

Cyclups Creation developed a new non-plastic: Plantastiq (PLQ). It is made from residual waste from grain, is completely biodegradable and compostable.

The company uses used agricultural wheat straw waste, which would normally be incinerated, as the raw material for their products. PLQ is a granulate made from 50 percent wheat straw and 50 percent lignin (wood dust) and cellulose from trees and bamboo. Meanwhile, there are four different PLQ variants. PLQ 1 is suitable for packaging, films and other thin applications. PLQ 2 is for more flexible applications such as drinking straws. PLQ 3 is suitable for harder applications such as cutlery and rigid packaging. Finally, PLQ4, which is comparable to other hard forms of plastic and is therefore very widely applicable.

Cyclups Creation earned the 79th place in the Innovation top 100 with the new material.

Ceyes Bv

Circular roof panel

CEYES BV occupied 82nd place in the KVK Innovation Top 100 2022 with a circular roof panel, made from discarded car tire rubber used in artificial turf fields. The so-called CE Green City roof panel from CEYES is used for green roofs in the city, which help to lower the temperature and also absorb CO2 and particulate matter.

The production of CE Green City roof panel starts with discarded tires that are ground into granulate, which in turn is used for artificial turf fields. An artificial turf field has a lifespan of twelve years and contains approximately 120 tons of rubber granules. When the old artificial turf is recycled, the rubber granule remains. This forms the basis for the circular roof panels from CEYES. With a lifespan of over hundred years, the roof panel is an environmentally friendly solution according to CEYES and the panel itself is also 100 percent recyclable. According to the manufacturer, the CE Green City panel also offers a solution against heat stress. After a rain shower, about 20 litres of water remain in the panel. Under dry conditions, the water evaporates and provides a cooling effect on a summer day. In addition, the material has insulating capacities and a high noise reduction. The CO2 footprint of the rubber panels is approximately four times lower than plastic panels. https://ceyes.eu/

MMP-ECO

Ecological impregnating agent

Building facades are constantly exposed to the elements. In particular, the penetration of rainwater contributes to weathering and the action of salts, acids and micro-organisms. A good impregnating agent prevents the disturbance of the moisture balance. MMP-ECO developed an ecological, 100 percent natural, impregnating agent, without harmful additives, which has no health risks and does not cause environmental damage. Moreover, according to the manufacturer, it does not contribute to CO2 emissions and global warming. MMP-ECO was initially developed to preserve Flemish and Dutch cultural heritage. But in the meantime facade restoration companies use it for all other buildings that have to deal with weathering and moisture problems. The company thus achieved 98th place in the Innovation top 100 2022.

www.mmp-eco.nl/

The entitre KGK Innovation Top 100 can be found at: www.kvkinnovatietop100.nl/site/home