Exploring the Future of Materials | Sustainability, Innovation and Australian-Made Solutions

At Cultivated, our restoration work is about more than just preserving furniture—it’s about rethinking the materials we use to do it. We work with a new generation of sustainable, Australian-made materials that help us extend the life of existing products in innovative ways. From replacement tabletops to joinery upgrades, these materials let us offer restorative solutions that align with our values of circularity, transparency, and local industry support.

Pictured:  Spotted Gum by Crafted Hardwoods

At a time when climate targets, landfill reduction, and product stewardship are more important than ever, the way we think about materials in furniture design is changing. Forward-thinking manufacturers and designers are exploring how waste can be reimagined as a resource—and how the materials of the future can be crafted here in Australia, supporting local innovation and reducing carbon emissions. We’re proud to work with several suppliers and makers who are pushing the boundaries in this space, offering material solutions that are not only more sustainable but also durable, beautiful, and suitable for commercial interiors. Here are three standout examples of Australian-made, next-generation materials that we’re using across our projects:

Fabtec: Turning Waste Textiles into Custom Furniture Panels

Based in Sydney, Fabtec has developed a unique composite plastic board made from waste polyester textiles—an innovation that diverts textile waste from landfill and turns it into something functional and striking. In partnership with CSIRO and Macquarie University, Fabtec has created a panel that stands apart from traditional plastic options made from PET or PP. With more than 200,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in Australian landfills every year, this product shows what’s possible when circular thinking meets clever design. The material has a marbled, terrazzo-like look and can be custom coloured to suit any project. We’ve used Fabtec as a replacement for MDF and particle board in tabletops across a range of commercial settings.

Pictured: Cultivated Sky Fabtec Desk

Pictured: Cultivated Sky Fabtec Desk

Better Joinery by Saveboard Circular Boards Made from Hard-to-Recycle Packaging

Saveboard, a New Zealand-founded company, has recently launched operations in Western Sydney. Their panels are made from a mix of soft plastics and Tetra Pak waste—two materials notoriously difficult to recycle—and are manufactured without glues or resins. The result is a composite board with a significantly lower environmental footprint. In fact, each sheet of Saveboard can reduce CO₂ emissions by around 20 kg compared to traditional MDF or particleboard. It’s also fully circular and can be returned to Saveboard at the end of its life to be remade into new board. We use the Better Joinery grade of Saveboard, which has a higher ratio of soft plastic for added stability, making it ideal for commercial furniture and joinery.

Pictured: Saveboard Circular Board

Pictured: SaveBoard Plinths pictured at the Cultivated x Mark Tuckey Perth Pop-up