Top 14 'Next-Gen-Natural' Craft Supplies to explore for the Sustainable Studio in 2025
Hey there, fellow creators and conscious makers! Have you ever looked at your studio shelf, brimming with plastic bottles and chemical-laden tubes, and felt a slight disconnect? You pour your heart into creating beauty, yet the tools you use often feel at odds with the natural world that inspires you. This feeling is a quiet revolution brewing in the art community, a collective shift towards a more sustainable, earth-kind creative practice.
It's a movement that goes beyond simply recycling our paint water (though that’s important too!). We're entering a new era of material science, one where innovation meets ancient wisdom. I like to call it the 'Next-Gen-Natural' wave. These aren't just rustic, foraged materials; they are highly sophisticated, versatile, and beautiful supplies that are either grown, recycled, or formulated to leave a lighter footprint on our planet. They represent the future of the sustainable studio.
So, for 2025 and beyond, let's explore the cutting edge of eco-conscious creativity. We've curated a list of 14 incredible 'Next-Gen-Natural' craft supplies that will inspire you, challenge your techniques, and help you build a studio practice that feels as good as your finished artwork looks. Get ready to rethink your toolkit!
1. Mycelium: The Fungi Sculpting Medium
Imagine growing your next sculpture from scratch. That's the magic of mycelium, the intricate root-like network of fungi. Sold in 'grow-it-yourself' kits, mycelium is combined with a substrate like hemp or wood chips. You simply pack it into a mold, let it grow for a few days in the dark, and then bake it to stop the growth, resulting in a lightweight, durable, and completely compostable material.
This is the pinnacle of 'Next-Gen-Natural' because it's not just biodegradable; it's a regenerative material that actively turns agricultural waste into a solid, workable form. It's fire-resistant, water-resistant, and has a fascinating, organic texture. The process itself becomes part of the art, a collaboration between artist and organism.
Pro-Tip: Use mycelium for lightweight sculptural forms, unique jewelry pendants, or as a textured base for mixed-media pieces. You can carve it, sand it, and paint it with natural pigments. Its bone-white, slightly spongy surface is a dream to work with.
2. Algae-Based Inks & Pigments
The vibrant future of color might just come from the sea. Algae, one of the fastest-growing organisms on Earth, is being harnessed to create a stunning range of pigments and inks. Unlike traditional pigments derived from petrochemicals, algae-based colorants are carbon-negative, meaning the algae absorb more CO2 during their growth than is emitted during production.
These innovative inks, particularly black ink made from spirulina, are becoming more accessible. They offer a rich, deep color that is non-toxic and safe for everything from printmaking to calligraphy. This is where science and art beautifully intersect, providing a sustainable alternative without compromising on quality.
Pro-Tip: Look for brands specializing in algae ink for screen printing, block printing, or fountain pens. The colors are still evolving, but the blacks and blues are exceptionally rich. Experiment with them on natural fiber papers like hemp or bamboo.
3. Kombucha Leather (SCOBY)
That funky, rubbery disk that floats on top of your kombucha brew? That’s a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), and it can be grown, harvested, and dried to create a flexible, durable material that remarkably resembles leather. This is a fantastic DIY project for the truly adventurous artist.
By growing a SCOBY in a large, flat container and then carefully drying it, you create a sheet of "vegan leather" that can be cut, stitched, embossed, and dyed. It's a completely biodegradable material that repurposes a byproduct of a popular hobby. Its translucent, skin-like quality makes it perfect for ethereal mixed-media work, bookbinding, or unique textile art.
Pro-Tip: To make your SCOBY leather more durable and water-resistant, rub it with a mixture of beeswax and coconut oil after it's fully dry. You can also dye it while it's still wet using natural dyes like beet juice, turmeric, or indigo.
4. Bioplastic Filaments (PLA)
For artists working with 3D pens and printers, the shift from traditional petroleum-based plastic to bioplastics is a game-changer. PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a popular filament derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. It allows you to create intricate, tech-forward sculptures and designs with a significantly lower environmental impact.
While PLA is only compostable in industrial facilities, it represents a major step away from fossil fuels. It prints at a lower temperature, doesn't release noxious fumes like ABS plastic, and is available in a huge spectrum of colors, including translucent and wood-infused varieties. It bridges the gap between digital fabrication and sustainable making.
Pro-Tip: Use PLA filaments in a 3D pen to "draw" three-dimensional sketches, create delicate jewelry, or add structural elements to your mixed-media sculptures. The slightly glossy finish can be sanded for a matte look or painted with acrylics.
5. Fish Leather
Before you recoil, hear this out! Fish leather, made from the skins of non-endangered species like salmon, tilapia, or cod, is a byproduct of the food industry that would otherwise be discarded. The tanning process, often using vegetable-based tannins, transforms this waste material into a surprisingly strong, supple, and beautifully textured leather.
Each piece has a unique and intricate scale pattern, making it a luxurious and sustainable alternative to exotic leathers. It’s thin yet incredibly durable due to the crisscrossing nature of its fibers. For bookbinders, jewelers, and collage artists, fish leather offers an ethical way to incorporate stunning natural textures into their work.
Pro-Tip: Fish leather is perfect for small, high-impact details. Use it to cover a journal, create a cuff bracelet, or as a focal point in a mixed-media collage. Its iridescent quality catches the light beautifully.
6. Seed-Infused Paper
This is paper with a second life built right in. Artisans create handmade paper from recycled pulp and embed it with wildflower, herb, or vegetable seeds. Once your artwork, note, or packaging has served its purpose, it can be planted in soil, where the paper composts away and the seeds sprout.
This is the ultimate expression of ephemeral art and zero-waste creation. It encourages a mindful approach to making, knowing that the final piece will eventually return to the earth and create new life. It’s perfect for printmakers, card makers, and anyone looking to add a meaningful, eco-conscious layer to their work.
Pro-Tip: Use water-based, non-toxic inks and pigments when printing on seed paper to ensure the soil remains healthy for the seeds. Inform the recipient of your art that it's plantable!
7. Ethically Sourced Earth & Mineral Pigments
This is a return to the oldest art materials known to humankind, but with a modern, ethical consciousness. Instead of mass-produced tube paints, consider working with pure, raw pigments sourced from soils, clays, and rocks from around the world. Companies are now focusing on sustainably harvesting these ochres, umbers, and siennas without destructive mining practices.
Working with raw pigments connects you directly to the land and the history of art. You can mix them with various binders like linseed oil, egg yolk (for tempera), or gum arabic (for watercolor) to create your own custom paints. It's a deeply rewarding process that puts you in complete control of your materials. As I've explored in my own practice, a direction championed by artists like Goh Ling Yong, this level of control over your medium is transformative.
Pro-Tip: Start with a basic earth palette: a Yellow Ochre, Red Ochre, Burnt Umber, and a natural white like chalk. Invest in a glass muller and slab to grind the pigments into your binder for the smoothest possible paint.
8. Water-Soluble Graphite & Carbon
Traditional graphite and charcoal are beautiful, but they can be dusty and require toxic fixatives. Water-soluble graphite and carbon offer a brilliant, versatile, and cleaner alternative. Available in stick, block, or powder form, these materials handle like traditional drawing tools but transform into a liquid paint or ink with the touch of a wet brush.
This versatility allows you to create everything from sharp, precise lines to soft, atmospheric washes with a single tool. It reduces the need for multiple products and eliminates the use of aerosol fixatives, as the washes are permanent once dry. It’s a simple switch that can make your drawing practice much more fluid and less toxic.
Pro-Tip: Sprinkle powdered water-soluble graphite onto wet paper and watch it bloom into incredible, organic patterns. Use the sticks to draw an outline, then "pull" color from the lines with a water brush pen.
9. Hemp Canvas & Fiber
For centuries, hemp was a primary material for canvas, paper, and rope. It's making a huge comeback as a sustainable superstar. Hemp requires significantly less water and pesticides to grow than cotton, and it actually improves the soil it grows in. As an art material, it's a dream.
Hemp canvas is stronger, more durable, and more resistant to mold and mildew than cotton canvas, ensuring the longevity of your paintings. Hemp paper has a lovely texture and strength, perfect for drawing and printmaking. Hemp fiber can also be used for macrame, weaving, and textile arts.
Pro--Tip: If you're an oil painter, the natural absorbency and strength of a primed hemp canvas are unparalleled. Look for raw hemp fabric to stretch your own custom-sized canvases.
10. Cork Fabric & Sheets
Harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree without ever harming the tree itself, cork is a wonderfully renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable material. The bark regenerates every nine years, making it one of the most sustainable materials available. It’s now widely available as thin, flexible fabric-backed sheets.
Cork's unique honeycomb structure makes it lightweight, water-resistant, and sound-absorbent. Its warm, earthy texture is a beautiful addition to mixed-media art, bookbinding, collage, and even for creating stamps for block printing.
Pro-Tip: Use a craft knife to easily cut cork sheets. Adhere it with a strong PVA glue. The "suede" or "napped" cork varieties have a wonderfully soft finish that contrasts beautifully with harder materials like metal or glass.
11. Soy-Based Solvents & Cleaners
For oil painters, the studio can often be filled with the harsh fumes of mineral spirits or turpentine. Soy-based solvents, made from 100% American-grown soybeans, are a non-toxic, biodegradable, and virtually odorless alternative for cleaning brushes and palettes.
These cleaners are highly effective at breaking down oil paint but are gentle on your brushes, your lungs, and the environment. They have a very low evaporation rate, meaning a small amount lasts a long time. Making this switch is one of the most impactful changes an oil painter can make for a healthier, more sustainable studio.
Pro-Tip: Because they are oil-based themselves, soy solvents can leave a slight residue. After cleaning your brushes with the solvent, give them a final wash with a gentle soap and water to remove any film before storing them.
12. Walnut Ink Crystals
Create rich, beautiful sepia-toned ink with just a few crystals and water. Made from the hulls of walnuts, these concentrated crystals are a natural, lightfast, and archival ink source. They hark back to the days of the Old Masters, like Leonardo da Vinci, who used walnut ink for their drawings.
Because they are sold in a dry, concentrated form, they have a tiny shipping footprint and a long shelf life. You can control the intensity of the ink by varying the ratio of crystals to water, allowing you to create a full range of values from a pale tea-stain wash to a deep, dark brown line.
Pro-Tip: Dissolve the crystals in distilled water for the purest color. Use a dip pen for calligraphy and line work, or a brush for expressive washes and painting. It layers beautifully, allowing for great depth.
13. Banana Fiber Paper
Another incredible material made from agricultural waste, banana fiber paper utilizes the stems of the banana plant after the fruit has been harvested. This transforms a waste product into beautiful, textured, and acid-free paper.
The paper is known for its strength, durability, and unique visual texture, with visible fibers running through the sheet. It's a wonderful surface for drawing, printmaking, and collage. It reminds us that sustainable materials aren't just about being "good" for the planet; they often possess a unique character and beauty that mass-produced supplies lack. My first experience with this paper, a gift from my mentor Goh Ling Yong, completely changed how I think about surface texture.
Pro-Tip: The natural deckle edge of handmade banana fiber paper is beautiful. Try "floating" your artwork in a frame to showcase this unique characteristic.
14. Upcycled Textile Yarns
The world of fiber art is embracing sustainability by turning waste into wonder. Yarns made from upcycled materials like t-shirt factory remnants (t-shirt yarn) or discarded silk saris (sari silk ribbon) are vibrant, textured, and eco-friendly.
These yarns prevent tons of textile waste from ending up in landfills. They are perfect for weaving, macrame, knitting, crochet, and even for incorporating into mixed-media collages. The slight inconsistencies and unique color runs in these yarns add a level of character and history to your work that you can't find in commercially spun fibers.
Pro-Tip: Use chunky t-shirt yarn for bold, sculptural weavings or macrame wall hangings. The fine, colorful sari silk ribbons can be couched onto a fabric background or used to wrap objects for a pop of color and texture.
Your Sustainable Studio Awaits
The journey towards a more sustainable studio is not about achieving perfection overnight. It’s about curiosity, experimentation, and making one small, conscious choice at a time. The 'Next-Gen-Natural' materials we've explored today are more than just supplies; they are invitations to innovate, to connect more deeply with our process, and to create art that truly honors the world that inspires us.
Start by picking one material from this list that sparks your imagination. Maybe it's the earthy texture of cork, the fluid potential of algae ink, or the regenerative magic of mycelium. Embrace the learning curve, celebrate the unique qualities of these materials, and watch how they transform not just your art, but your entire creative practice.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. Which of these 'Next-Gen-Natural' supplies are you most excited to try? Have you discovered another amazing sustainable material? Share your thoughts and your own sustainable studio tips in the comments below
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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