Between the 4th and 6th of March, we visited MaterialDistrict Utrecht 2026 for the third year in a row. This time thanks to Cooloo, who kindly shared a ticket with us. And honestly, every year we walk away with the same feeling: there is already so much happening when it comes to waste transformation. Much more than most people realise.
For those who don’t know MaterialDistrict yet, it is basically a big gathering around material innovation, circular design, architecture, and interior concepts. But what makes it interesting for us is the fact that so many people there are actively trying to rethink what materials we use, what gets thrown away, and what could still have value.
That’s also why the event almost feels like a small Waste Alchemists gathering for us at this point. This year, we bumped into familiar faces like Studio Wae, i-did, Kairos Furniture, Cooloo, and CircuLeather which is related to La Femme Qui Rit. In previous years, we also ran into initiatives like Hollands Wol Collectief, Eversom, and WasteBoards.
Showing visitors what concrete from demolition waste can look like – Tynke van den Heuvel from Studio Wae
What we love most about MaterialDistrict is that you don’t just see finished products. You meet the people behind them. You hear where materials come from, why certain choices are made, and what challenges come with working differently. It makes waste transformation feel tangible instead of abstract.
One thing that genuinely made us very happy this year was hearing from several alchemists that they were actually doing really well business wise. That was honestly super motivating to hear. So often, we see how difficult it can be for circular makers to survive financially, so hearing positive stories about growth, collaborations, and increasing demand felt like a good signal that things really are shifting.
Leather rescued from getting burned by Circuleather
At the same time, events like this remind us how many people are already proving what is possible with materials that would otherwise be burned, buried, or forgotten. Not as future concepts, but as uses of waste that already exist right now.
The next edition of MaterialDistrict Utrecht will take place from 10 to 12 March 2027 at the Werkspoorkathedraal in Utrecht. So mark it already in your agenda if this is something that interests you
Big hug,
Daniel & Sam
Being interviewed about innovative materials – Michiel Dekkers from i-did
A look back at the Waste Alchemists launch event, where people met makers, created with waste, and experienced a different way of looking at this wonderful but underrated resource.
It all started with a simple student challenge and an unexpected discovery. What followed was a growing curiosity about waste, the people transforming it, and the need for a place where their stories could truly last.
Leon from GreenSide shares how his initiative started, how it works in practice, and what it really takes to build products from waste in a local and social way. An honest look behind the scenes, straight from the maker himself.
We often think of waste as what ends up in our bin. But waste is created in many places we never see. When we start looking beyond our own habits, we begin to see not just a problem, but enormous potential.
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