Isaac Monté has always been fascinated by unusual materials and ways to manipulate and transform them. In Straw Return he transforms wheat stem residues - leftovers that are usually discarded, even after producing biodegradable straws - into high-performance, circular materials.
The process required more than a hundred experiments, but Monté eventually developed a natural bio-binder and a composite with acoustic, fire-resistant, and structural properties, which is also fully biodegradable. In this way, the designer turns what was once considered worthless waste into valuable products, such as sustainable acoustic panels, packaging, and furniture. Straw Return is a collaboration between Isaac Monté and Staramaki, a social enterprise that provides employment to people who fled to Greece.
