Corn (or maize) is one of the most cultivated crops on the planet, yet with no nutritional value, its cob is left to waste. Whether burned as biofuel or left to rot, this by-product releases carbon into atmosphere. StoneCycling partnered with Belgian start-up Circular Matters to create a product that stores this carbon for longer.
To make the CornWall tiles and panels, discarded cobs are dried and shredded, before being combined with other agricultural waste, binders and pigments. The mixture is heated and compressed (using solar energy) into sheets and finished with an ultra-thin waterproof coating.
The production process is said to emit less CO2 than the amount captured by the corn as it grew. Meanwhile, all ingredients (bar the pigments) are bio-based, and the resulting product is biodegradable to official standards and completely recyclable.
To encourage reuse and enhance its lifespan, CornWall is supplied with a detachable anchoring system, meaning it can be removed and remounted with ease, or returned to StoneCycling for recycling. This feature renders it highly suitable for applications across the retail and hospitality sectors, whether as vertical wall finishing and panelling, a splashback for bars, or furniture cladding in hotel rooms.
It’s currently available in one granular texture, eight earthy colourways and two sizes, with more premium finishes to follow soon.
StoneCycling is initially pitching at chains that regularly open and close locations – a move that will help to mainstream the material by establishing collaborative closed-loop systems. This approach aligns with crucial sustainability strategies outlined in our Spring/Summer 2024 Direction Clean Reset.
For more natural and waste-based building solutions, see Towards Sustainable Construction.
