Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - September 30, 2024) - On September 27th, the Sustainability Exhibition of Shanghai Design Week officially opened at the World Design Capital Conference. The exhibition built upon a sustainable design exploration initiative launched in late 2023, using the "YI PAN LONG" craft's ten different material practices as a starting point. This exploration gradually formed three main directions: plant-based materials, waste recycling, and CNC technology. The exhibition invited 16 brands from industrial design, fashion design, material research, and furniture industries to participate, initiating a dialogue between nature, technology, and the social environment. It showcased how these sustainable practitioners push the boundaries of materials, craftsmanship, and technology to integrate sustainable concepts and design innovations into economic, social, and environmental sustainability goals, as well as into everyday life scenarios.

Concurrently, Shanghai Design Week launched the "Sustainable Design Practitioners Initiative," aiming to gather more practitioners for future explorations. The initiative emphasizes that design is not merely a tool for creating commercial value but also a driving force for industrial development. It advocates for considering the finite nature of Earth's resources throughout the design process, making sustainability a core principle. Designers, platforms, companies, and other partners are encouraged to become practitioners of sustainability, transforming ideas into concrete actions. The initiative is committed to implementing sustainable methods in practical applications, benefiting both ecological co-construction and global symbiosis.

Innovative Design, Returning to Nature

From the use of plant-based materials to extending product lifespans, design innovation illuminates the hope for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, leveraging natural forces to promote sustainable development.

The fashion industry is one of the world's most polluting sectors, accounting for about 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater discharge. WEVE2050, one of the exhibited brands, explores cutting-edge environmentally friendly materials and zero-waste cutting techniques to create exquisite fashion pieces with minimal fabric usage, addressing sustainability challenges in the beauty industry.

New Life for Waste, Shaping Possibilities

Transforming the "useless" into the "useful," the process of waste recycling reduces the demand for new resource extraction and energy consumption while providing an endless supply of materials for creativity.

M-SEEN, one of the exhibiting brands, is committed to continuously exploring and expanding its material library, developing innovative sustainable materials such as denim recycled boards. Ming Studio, driven by curiosity and years of industry experience, seeks to identify the presence and identity of objects within specific contexts through practice and experimentation. The studio aims to integrate meaningful innovation with a human touch across various mediums. For Ming Studio, sustainability extends beyond materials or production methods; it signifies the long-lasting and meaningful existence of things.

Technological Evolution, New Quality Growth

The rapid iteration of technology, whether optimizing materials, improving energy efficiency, or developing new productive forces, injects new vitality into the design industry.

Re-Block debuted an AI-enhanced low-carbon new material system at the exhibition. This material, produced through AI and advanced processes, can capture carbon dioxide and reduce carbon emissions by 90% compared to traditional concrete. These materials repurpose solid waste into low-carbon, attractive, high-performance decorative materials, helping more designers incorporate sustainability into their projects.

Patch Design is a sustainable design brand that perfectly blends 3D printing technology with traditional hand weaving, using recycled plastic as raw material to create unique products. In this exhibition, they use advanced robotic arm 3D printing technology to demonstrate the harmony between innovation and craftsmanship, while also creating products that evoke coastal nostalgia through long-standing fishing net weaving techniques.

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