What if we search for raw materials that are found everywhere in abundance? Raw materials that are renewable and absorb CO₂ – instead of traditional materials that impact the environment? This is exactly what we do with our latest innovation: CornWall.
CornWall is a wall finishing material crafted from plant-based biomass. It is sourced primarily from the cores of regional (Western Europe) corn cobs. This organic waste is widely available and usually destined for fermentation, burning as biomass or remaining on the field. CornWall is an alternative for ceramic wall cladding or other less sustainable composite materials such as HPL.
As the CO₂, absorbed by the biomass of the corn cobs during growth, is not naturally broken down or burned and thus retained for longer, CornWall stores more CO₂ than is emitted during production. Since the product is biodegradable or can be 100% reused, there is also no end-of-life waste. CornWall will be supplied with a demountable anchoring system and is not glued. It can thus be removed from the interior if needed.
During growth, more CO2 is stored than is emitted during production.
There is no end-of-life waste since the product is biodegradable or can be 100% recycled.
The tiles can be demounted and reused to pass them on to subsequent cycles.
Sizes
300 x 600 x 4 mm
600 x 600 x 4 mm
Order size within Europe
> 50 m²
Order size outside of Europe
> 500 m²
CornWall is produced in a sheltered workshop in Antwerp, Belgium. Circular Matters utilises a pressing process to create the products. By heating organic material up to 150 degrees Celsius, the polymers in the biomass activate and form strong bonds, which results in a strong and stable end product. This heating process is electrical, powered by sustainable energy, mainly from solar panels on the roof of the production facility. The production process requires no fossil fuels.
In the future, we intend to set up a recycling scheme, enabling the return of end-of-life products. These tiles can then be ground and converted 100% into a new product.
We will start producing the CornWall base collection – under the creative and strategic direction of Studio Nina van Bart – with one texture, eight colours and two sizes. Additional high-end textures will follow soon. Bespoke options are available for orders over 1000 m².
Circular Matters leverages the power of plants to create materials that replace fossil-based plastics and resins. They teamed up with FRONT® to accelerate the reach of their bio-based building materials – the future of sustainable construction. Together, they launched their first bio-based product: CornWall.
Learn more at circularmatters.com
The CornWall collection is curated under the creative and strategic direction of Studio Nina van Bart. Studio Nina van Bart is a forward-thinking multidisciplinary design studio that creates colourful, tactile, and high-quality functional designs. They specialise in redefining materials for ambitious brands.
Learn more at ninavanbart.nl
Yes, the entire product, including the pigments, is Red List Free.
You can download the sustainability statement of CornWall via the download centre. An official EPD will be published as soon as the production is scaled up.
CornWall is available for delivery in Europe and the United States.
The technical documentation of CornWall can be downloaded from the download centre.
The material price of CornWall is comparable to the price of a high-quality ceramic tile. However, the processing and end-of-life costs are much lower. Request a quote for the exact price.
This depends on the order. Contact us for a current estimate.
Yes, CornWall lends itself to custom design, including colour, texture, and size. The maximum size we can currently produce is 60 cm x 60 cm. Custom projects start from 1000 m2.
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