The research center of Ford Europe has started the development of liquid wood. The resulting fully mouldable material is based on Lignin and rubber and is recyclable up to five times. Therefore creating a carbon neutral footprint for the base material, but not the manufacturing process. We are keenly awaiting news from this three-year assessment project. It is funded by the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, the birth place of Jurgen Brand our principal designer. You can find the original announcement here: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30715

What is this going to do for industrial design and product development? Product design and the manufacture of consumer goods needs materials which are sustainable and carbon neutral. Not only in the generation of material commodity, such as the Lignin mixed with rubber to make liquid wood. As product designers we look forward to the day when we can specify processes which are fully sustainable.

Sustainable Design Material?