Following its global debut last month, Polybion’s innovative biomaterial, Celium, has now been named one of 11 winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge in Amsterdam.
Polybion was among the 11 winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge, organized by What Design Can Do (WDCD) selected out of an entry pool of more than 500. The WDCD platform promotes design as a tool for social transformation. The Redesign Everything Challenge, in its fifth iteration and partnered with the Ikea Foundation, seeks creative solutions to climate change across various categories, including products, materials, communications, spaces, and systems.
Polybion called the recognition a testament to the team’s “years of meticulous work” highlighting the potential of biology when it intersects with design. “It’s an honor and a privilege to showcase Celium, our premium cultivated cellulose, to the world, as it represents the sum of a massive team effort compounded over time, coming to fruition,” a spokesperson said.
“In the face of our planet’s greatest challenges, design emerges as a powerful catalyst for change,” commented Liz McKeon, head of planet at the Ikea Foundation. “The What Design Can Do design challenges that we supported have ignited innovative, design-focused solutions led by the creative community themselves, in addressing issues such as climate change, health, well-being, and social equity all around the world. This demonstrates that designers can become the architects of solutions, building the bridge between imagination and impactful change, and have the transformative ability to shape transformation toward a sustainable future.”
Celium is a biomaterial developed by feeding bacteria with agricultural fruit waste, marking a sustainable transition from traditional resource extraction to regenerative cultivation. This cultivated cellulose is scalable with minimal infrastructure, utilizing existing fermentation technology to produce a versatile, vegan, and organic textile. Danish label Ganni debuted a jacket made from the material last year.
“Redesigning everything is, first and foremost, a call to action,” said Richard van der Laken, WDCD’s co-founder and creative director. “It’s also an invitation to think laterally about how our world should be redesigned, in ways both big and small. Now, more than ever, there is an urgent need for inclusive and circular solutions, and for the transformative and disruptive power of design.”
The winners will benefit from the Redesign Everything Accelerator program, which starts in July with a “sprint week” in Amsterdam. During this event, the cohort will meet with industry experts and participate in masterclasses focused on design and circularity. Each winner will receive €5,000 and be paired with a mentor to support their personal and professional development. Additionally, WDCD will host festivals in global design capitals, offering winners a platform to present their ideas to potential partners and investors.
“The winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge exemplify the potential of design to address climate impacts,” van der Laken said. “These projects not only provide innovative solutions to climate issues but also inspire others to reimagine what’s possible. The creativity and dedication shown by these teams impressed the jury and the entire team at What Design Can Do.”
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