Prólogo. EcoMat: Ecología material. Manual práctico de materiales emergentes biobasados.

The EcoMat project, developed by the research group Ecologías Materiales y BioDiseño (EcoBDLab) at Universidad Europea de Madrid, addresses the sustainability crisis through the exploration of emerging bio-based materials (MEB). Using a methodology based on Materials Driven Design, the research focuses on the potential of these biomaterials as sustainable alternatives, prioritising their properties to guide the creative process.

The research included the experimentation, selection, scaling-up and documentation of 100 bio-based samples, using gelling agents and fillers of plant, animal and mineral origin, as well as manual and digital processing techniques. The main outcome is the creation of a modular biomaterials library, conceived as a physical and symbolic archive that catalogues these samples, accompanied by technical data sheets and sensory tables to facilitate their replication.

EcoMat is proposed as an open resource for researchers, designers and artists interested in sustainability, offering a solid foundation for the future development of DIY materials and fostering a more conscious and regenerative relationship with the material environment.