THE ECO EXPERT

In partnership with Naturalmat

WINNER Edward Bulmer

With a beautiful array of colours made from natural materials such as plant extracts, chalk and linseed, all of Edward Bulmer’s (top left) paints are entirely non-toxic.

‘He is someone who has lived and breathed his real belief in importance in good materials,’ said Lulu Lytle.

Smile Plastics

Shop boards might be an unlikely topic for an interiors magazine, but trust us these are revolutionary. Back in the 1980s, Colin Williamson developed some boards made from recycled plastics, helping shopfitters to build in a more sustainable way. He eventually retired his business, but it has recently been resurrected by Rosalie Mcmillan and Adam Fairweather (centre left), whose verve has seen the technique applied to furniture for Heal’s. In an example of true sustainability, this material can be recycled again and again. ‘This is one of the most consistently innovative types of eco activity I’ve seen,’ said Barbara Chandler.

Ma-tt-er

Set up by Seetal Solanki (below left), Ma-tt-er is both a consultancy agency and library of insightful knowledge about materials. Its tag line says it best – the aim is to readdress our relationship with the planet by understanding the unexplored potential of materials, and in doing so, Seetal has become a resource for anyone wishing to know which plastics are better than others, how to use bio materials and other advice for picking what to work with. ‘She is extremely respected for her knowledge of materials,’ said Sebastian Cox.

Brodie Neill

Australian-born designer Brodie Neill is as much an activist as he is a maker (his Alpha chair is shown, left). Appalled by the amount of plastic waste being washed up on beaches in Tasmania, he started making tables and benches out of it, called the Flotsam collection, drawing attention to the problem. ‘I’m always impressed by his passion for highlighting this issue,’ said Barbara Chandler.