CROCUS Sustainable innovation project that transforms textile waste into fire-resistant and anti-fungal thermal insulation, within a circular economy framework.
- Nationality
- Uruguay
- Designer
- Mariana Sabrina Paredes Martínez
About Project
CROCUS is a sustainable design project that transforms discarded textile waste into eco-friendly insulation with fire-resistant and antimicrobial properties. Developed to reduce the environmental burden left by the textile industry, this material requires minimal energy to produce while enhancing building’s insulation performance and energy efficiency. After successful lab testings, a pilot program in public schools is scheduled for 2025, alongside workshops and textile waste collection campaigns involving students and local residents, generating both educational and social impact.
The innovation of CROCUS draws attention not only for the material itself but also in its production model. Customers donate textile waste and receive design services tailored to specific applications. The insulation produced is then applied to customer facilities or donated to schools and public institutions. In this process, workshops, factories, companies, and local communities collaborate, forming a circular value chain.
Affordable yet highly efficient, this insulation system contributes to improving living environments and quality of life, especially for vulnerable groups. Lightweight and customizable in form and color, it can ben adapted to diverse architectural settings. Starting in Spain, it has the potential to expand its operation to cities and vulnerable areas worldwide.
Ultimately, CROCUS goes beyond solving waste problems and saving energy. It proposes a sustainable lifestyle that encompasses local collaboration and social responsibility.