Top 12 'Bio-Based & Beautiful' Craft Materials to learn for Eco-Conscious Creators in 2025 - Goh Ling Yong
Hey creators, welcome back to the blog! There's a quiet revolution happening in our studios, workshops, and craft rooms. It’s a shift away from the synthetic and disposable, and a return to the organic, the renewable, and the deeply beautiful. We’re no longer just asking, "What can I make?" but also, "What is it made of, and where will it go when I’m done with it?" This growing consciousness is transforming not just our art, but our very relationship with the materials we use.
The future of crafting isn't just about new techniques; it's about new ingredients. Enter the world of bio-based materials: innovative substances derived from living matter like plants, algae, fungi, and even food waste. These materials are not just "eco-friendly alternatives"; they are a class of their own, offering unique textures, properties, and stories that can elevate our work from merely beautiful to truly meaningful. It's a principle I, Goh Ling Yong, have always championed: that our materials should be as thoughtfully considered as our final creations.
So, if you're ready to infuse your practice with intention and innovation, you're in the right place. We've curated a list of the top 12 bio-based and beautiful craft materials poised to make a huge impact in 2025. From leathers grown from mushrooms to plastics made from algae, get ready to discover your next creative obsession.
1. Mycelium (Mushroom) Leather
Mycelium is the intricate root-like network of fungi that grows beneath the soil. In recent years, innovators have learned how to grow this network into dense, interlocking mats. When harvested, treated, and processed, these mats transform into a material that looks and feels remarkably like animal leather—soft, pliable, and surprisingly durable. It’s a game-changer, offering a cruelty-free and biodegradable option that literally grows from the ground up.
The process is a beautiful blend of biology and technology. Mycelium is typically fed agricultural waste like sawdust or corn husks, turning byproducts into a valuable resource. Unlike traditional leather production, it requires minimal water and land, and avoids toxic tanning chemicals. The resulting material has a unique, earthy suede-like finish that tells the story of its organic origin.
- Creative Applications: Perfect for small-scale projects like creating bespoke journal covers, minimalist wallets, unique jewelry components, or decorative patches for clothing. Its texture also lends itself beautifully to sculptural forms and bookbinding.
- Pro Tip: Mycelium leather is porous. To increase its longevity and water resistance, treat it with a natural wax conditioner, like carnauba or soy wax, gently buffing it into the surface.
2. Kombucha Leather (SCOBY)
If you're a DIY enthusiast who loves a bit of kitchen science, this one's for you. Kombucha leather is made from a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast), the same gelatinous disc used to brew the popular fermented tea. When a SCOBY is grown in a large, flat container and then dehydrated, it becomes a translucent, leather-like material with a fascinating, organic texture.
The beauty of SCOBY leather lies in its accessibility. With just sugar, tea, and a starter culture, you can grow your own custom-sized sheets of material right at home. The process is a lesson in patience and observation as you watch the thin film thicken day by day. Once dried, it can be cut, sewn, dyed, and even molded into three-dimensional shapes.
- Creative Applications: Ideal for experimental fashion, creating statement jewelry, crafting delicate lampshades (it's beautifully translucent), or forming small decorative bowls and vessels.
- Pro Tip: Your finished kombucha leather will be stiff. To make it more pliable and water-resistant, rub a small amount of coconut oil or another natural oil into the surface. This will also deepen its color.
3. Algae-Based Bioplastics & Pigments
Algae is one of nature’s most powerful and versatile organisms. This humble aquatic plant is now at the forefront of bio-material innovation, being transformed into everything from flexible bioplastics to stunningly vibrant pigments. Algae grows incredibly fast, sequesters carbon dioxide, and can be cultivated in places where traditional crops can't, making it a sustainability superstar.
Algae bioplastics can range from flexible films to hard, moldable resins, making them suitable for 3D printing filaments, casting, and more. Algae pigments, on the other hand, offer a spectrum of intense, light-fast colors—especially brilliant greens, blues, and reds—that can be used to create natural inks, watercolors, or fabric dyes without the heavy metals found in many synthetic pigments.
- Creative Applications: Use algae 3D printing filament to create intricate sculptures. Mix algae pigment powders with gum arabic to make your own professional-grade watercolors, or with soy milk to create a permanent fabric paint.
- Pro Tip: When making your own algae paint, start with a small amount of pigment powder and slowly add your binder. Algae pigments are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way!
4. Cork Fabric
We all know cork from wine stoppers and bulletin boards, but its potential goes so much further. Cork fabric, or cork leather, is made by shaving thin layers from the bark of the cork oak tree and adhering them to a fabric backing. This process is incredibly sustainable because the tree is never cut down; its bark regenerates every nine years, making it a truly renewable resource.
The resulting fabric is a joy to work with. It's lightweight, water-resistant, and has a warm, soft touch with a unique visual texture. It’s also surprisingly durable and easy to clean. Unlike many synthetic leathers, cork fabric is easy to sew with a standard sewing machine and doesn't show pinholes, making it very forgiving for beginners.
- Creative Applications: A fantastic material for sewing bags, purses, and wallets. It’s also great for home decor items like placemats and cushion covers, or for adding unique accents to garments.
- Pro Tip: Use a sharp needle (like a microtex or denim needle) and a slightly longer stitch length when sewing cork fabric for the cleanest finish. No special presser foot is needed!
5. Pineapple Leather (Piñatex®)
Imagine a beautiful, durable leather alternative made from the leaves of a pineapple plant. That's Piñatex®. This innovative material was developed by salvaging the long fibers from pineapple leaves, which are typically discarded as a byproduct of the fruit harvest. These fibers are processed into a non-woven mesh that forms the base of a soft, flexible, and sustainable textile.
Piñatex® has a distinctively crinkled texture that sets it apart from other leather alternatives. It’s breathable, strong, and can be finished in a variety of colors and textures, from metallic to matte. By providing a secondary income stream for pineapple farmers and making use of agricultural waste, it represents a truly circular and ethical approach to material design.
- Creative Applications: Excellent for projects that require a bit more structure, such as footwear, structured bags, upholstery for small furniture like footstools, and tech accessories like laptop sleeves.
- Pro Tip: When cutting Piñatex®, use a rotary cutter and a self-healing mat for the most precise and clean edges. It cuts beautifully and doesn’t fray.
6. Hemp Fiber
Hemp is one of humanity’s oldest cultivated crops, and for good reason. This powerhouse plant grows quickly with little water and no need for pesticides, all while enriching the soil it grows in. As a craft material, hemp fiber is celebrated for its incredible strength, durability, and resistance to mold and mildew.
Hemp is available in many forms for the modern creator. Rougher hemp twine is a staple for macrame artists, while softer hemp yarn is perfect for knitting and crochet. Hemp fabric has a beautiful drape and softens with every wash, much like linen, making it ideal for textile arts and sustainable fashion. Its natural, earthy color is beautiful on its own or as a perfect canvas for natural dyes.
- Creative Applications: Use hemp cord for intricate macrame wall hangings and plant hangers. Weave with hemp fabric to create textured tapestries, or use it for block printing and embroidery.
- Pro Tip: When working with hemp macrame cord, your hands can get a bit dry. Keep a small amount of natural hand balm nearby to stay comfortable during long crafting sessions.
7. Natural Dyes from Food Waste
The most beautiful colors can often be found in the most unexpected places—like your kitchen compost bin! Food scraps like avocado pits and skins, yellow onion skins, and used coffee grounds can be used to create an astonishing range of subtle, complex colors for dyeing fabrics and yarns. This practice connects us to an ancient tradition and turns what would be waste into a valuable artistic resource.
The process feels like a magical alchemy. By simply simmering materials like wool, cotton, or silk with your chosen food waste and a mordant (a substance that helps the dye fix to the fiber, like alum or soy milk), you can create lasting, one-of-a-kind colors. Avocado pits yield dusty pinks, onion skins create golden yellows and oranges, and black beans can produce soft blues and purples.
- Creative Applications: Revitalize old t-shirts, create beautifully colored yarn for weaving or knitting projects, dye quilting fabrics for an organic patchwork, or even create tinted paper for bookmaking.
- Pro Tip: For the most vibrant and lasting colors, always use natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk, or wool. Synthetic fibers won't absorb natural dyes.
8. Cornstarch Bioplastic
This is another fantastic DIY bio-material you can make in your own kitchen. By heating a simple mixture of cornstarch, water, vinegar, and glycerin, you can create a basic thermoplastic that can be molded while warm and hardens as it cools. It’s a non-toxic, biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics, perfect for small-scale sculpting and casting.
While not as durable as commercial plastics, its charm lies in its simplicity and transient nature. It’s a fantastic educational tool for teaching about material science and sustainability. The finished material can be slightly translucent and can be colored with food coloring or natural pigments during the cooking process.
- Creative Applications: Create beads for jewelry, small ornaments, game pieces, or tiles for a mosaic project. You can also pour the liquid mixture into silicone molds to create specific shapes.
- Pro Tip: The amount of glycerin you add determines the flexibility of the final plastic. Use a little less for a more rigid result, and a little more for a material that has a bit of bend.
9. Sculptural Paper Pulp
This isn’t your childhood papier-mâché. By blending recycled paper (like old newspapers, egg cartons, or office scraps) with water and a natural binder like methyl cellulose or even simple cornstarch paste, you can create a refined, clay-like pulp. This material, often called paper clay, is incredibly lightweight, surprisingly strong when dry, and can be sculpted, sanded, and painted.
Working with sculptural paper pulp is a highly tactile experience. You can press it into molds, sculpt it by hand, or apply it over an armature to create large, lightweight forms that would be impossibly heavy if made from traditional clay. Here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, we love how this technique gives a second, more beautiful life to paper waste.
- Creative Applications: Perfect for creating masks, decorative bowls, sculptural vessels, and even puppet heads. Its light weight also makes it ideal for crafting large-scale hanging mobile art.
- Pro Tip: For an ultra-smooth finish, allow your paper pulp creation to dry completely, then apply a thin layer of gesso. Sand it lightly before painting to create a perfect, non-porous surface.
10. Seaweed Biopolymers
For the truly adventurous and experimental creator, seaweed biopolymers offer a glimpse into the future of materials. Seaweeds like agar-agar and carrageenan are natural gelling agents that can be used to create everything from flexible, plastic-like films to hard, castable objects. These materials are completely biodegradable and ocean-friendly.
You can experiment at home by boiling agar-agar powder with water and glycerin (much like the cornstarch plastic) to create thin, transparent sheets. These sheets can be colored, cut, and even heat-sealed. The results can be unpredictable, but that’s part of the creative journey—discovering the unique properties and potential of this abundant marine resource.
- Creative Applications: Create delicate, translucent films for light diffusers or layered collages. Cast the liquid mixture in molds to create ephemeral jewelry or small, jewel-like objects. It's a material that invites play and discovery.
- Pro Tip: Work quickly! Agar-based mixtures begin to set as soon as they cool below body temperature. Have your molds and workspace ready before you take your mixture off the heat.
11. Bamboo Yarn
Bamboo is a type of grass, and it’s one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth. When processed into a fiber, it creates a yarn that is beloved by knitters and crocheters for its incredible softness, smooth drape, and subtle sheen, often compared to silk or cashmere. It's a fantastic plant-based alternative for projects where you want a bit of luxury.
Bamboo fabric is also naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, and has antibacterial properties, making it an excellent choice for items worn close to the skin. When choosing bamboo yarn, look for sources that use a closed-loop "lyocell" process, which recycles the water and solvents used, to ensure you're making the most sustainable choice.
- Creative Applications: Ideal for knitting or crocheting lightweight sweaters, shawls, scarves, and baby blankets. Its silky feel is pure luxury against the skin.
- Pro Tip: Bamboo yarn has a lot of drape and not much "memory" or elasticity. Choose patterns that will be enhanced by this quality, like flowing shawls, rather than projects that need to hold their shape, like a ribbed hat brim.
12. Air-Dry Wood Clay
Imagine a material that feels like clay but dries into a substance that looks and feels like wood. That’s air-dry wood clay. It’s typically made from a mixture of actual wood pulp or dust combined with a non-toxic, air-drying binder. It’s incredibly easy to work with—no kiln firing required—and can be sanded, carved, drilled, and stained just like real wood once it's fully cured.
This material offers the malleability of clay and the finished aesthetic of wood, opening up a world of creative possibilities. It's perfect for detailed sculptural work and for repairing or embellishing actual wooden objects, as it can be blended seamlessly.
- Creative Applications: Sculpt detailed figurines, create lightweight jewelry pendants, make decorative embellishments for furniture, or form unique knobs and drawer pulls.
- Pro Tip: Wood clay can dry out as you work. Keep a small dish of water nearby to moisten your fingertips and smooth out any cracks that appear. Once dry, use a fine-grit sandpaper for a beautifully smooth, professional finish.
The Future of Craft is in Your Hands
Exploring these bio-based materials is more than just a trend; it's a fundamental shift towards a more mindful and connected way of creating. By choosing materials that are grown, not manufactured, we embed our work with a deeper story and a lighter footprint on the planet. This is the new frontier of art—one where beauty, innovation, and responsibility are woven together.
The journey into sustainable crafting is a personal one, filled with experimentation and discovery. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, to try something new, and to let the unique properties of these materials guide your next project.
Now, I want to hear from you! Which of these materials are you most excited to try in 2025? Have you worked with any other bio-based materials that you love? Share your thoughts, projects, and questions in the comments below. Let's build a community of conscious creators together.
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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