Beyond Sustainable: The Rise of Regenerative Building Materials

“What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?” -    The Living Future Institute

This question, first raised by the Living Future Institute, has moved beyond speculation and into reality. Regenerative materials already exist all around us - the challenge now is choosing to use them. We are living in a moment of deep polarity: as institutions once tasked with championing sustainability begin to fracture, an extraordinary wave of innovation is simultaneously equipping us with the tools to become true stewards, capable of aligning the built environment with the natural world.

As a long-standing ally to architects, designers, manufacturers, and the building community at large, Ecomedes is committed to supporting and accelerating this shift. In 2026, we will be showcasing companies and building solutions that apply systems thinking to design and innovation, illustrating how the built environment can learn from - and operate more like - natural ecosystems.

Here are some of the things we have in store…

Living Future 2026 Panelist: Accelerating the Biobased Breakthrough 

We’re honored to have been selected to lead a panel on biobased building materials at the Living Future 2026 Conference. Ecomedes CEO and Co-Founder Kathleen Egan will be joined by trailblazers Jacob Deva Racusin, Co-Founder and Director of New Frameworks; Emily Majewski, Co-Founder of Cast Carbon; and James Kitchin, Director of Abundant Futures Lab at MASS Design Group and the Bio-Based Materials Collective.

Together, they will facilitate an interactive dialogue examining manufacturing, building codes, how to separate meaningful biobased solutions from greenwashing as well as how to scale with integrity.

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes the commitment of an entire industry to support the flourishing of a new movement. We believe that Living Future is the perfect setting for our shared responsibility to take shape – through honest dialogue, problem solving, and coordinated action we can build momentum. This is not just about feel good conversations; it’s about structural change.

Material Forum Podcast by Ecomedes: Restorative Design in Practice

In 2026, our Material Forum podcast will examine the intersection of natural materials, climate tech, and innovation, uncovering ideas and inventions that evoke awe and meaningful revelation.

David Hertz - architect, inventor, educator, and XPRIZE Water Abundance Prize winner - introduces us to SkySource and his groundbreaking invention, WEDEW (Wood-to-Energy Deployable Emergency Water). Powered by biomass gasification, WEDEW produces more than 2,000 gallons of water per day using 100% renewable energy at a cost of less than two cents per liter. Beyond the technology itself, our conversation explores the critical importance of decentralizing water infrastructure, cultivating micro-economies, and building a more resilient world.

James Kitchin, Director of MASS Design’s Abundant Futures Design Lab and the Bio-Based Materials Collective, will walk us through the essentials of biobased materials - demystifying what they are, how to choose the right ones, and how our community can help bring them to scale.

Maya Crowne and Price Latimer, founders of Alkemis, will unpack what mineral-based paints are, how they reduce microplastics, and why living in spaces finished with rock and crystals can positively impact wellness through biomimicry and built in air filtration. The conversation also looks at Alkemis’s science-driven formulations, their Cradle to Cradle Gold certification, and what it takes to turn vision into reality through action and commitment.

2026 is going to be a year of action! 

In 2026, there’s a clear wake-up call: progress depends less on rhetoric and more on execution. Through gatherings like Living Future, conversations on Material Forum, and shared resolve across the A&D and manufacturing community, Ecomedes is committed to helping turn regenerative ideals into real-world outcomes.

This is a moment to choose differently - to design with systems in mind, to specify materials that give back, and to shape a built environment that participates in the health of people and the planet. We’re excited to build what comes next - together.

Follow the sustainable materials revolution and more at https://www.ecomedes.com/