Cara Rude is the Director of Interior Design at McCool Carlson Green in Alaska. She is passionate about creating spaces that are conducive to healthy living. She attended the Living Product Expo is Pittsburgh last fall, and is now sharing why she’ll be joining us again this September.
I couldn’t wait to attend the first-ever Living Product Expo. The Expo was a place to create partnerships with manufacturers, designers, and producers who are passionate about creating regenerative products. I wanted to be part of this material revolution.
A big part of the Living Product Expo is the trade show portion, which is a great opportunity to get acquainted with new materials and vendors. At McCool Carlson Green, we are committed to Red-list-free materials specification. The Expo was a helpful resource to find new products. One of my favorite vendors from last year was Thermacork. The company produces 100% natural insulation that meets the R-values needs in Alaska, and can be used for roofing, exterior walls, partitions, flooring and ceilings.
The Expo also introduced me to Purebond, a soy-based adhesive hardwood plywood. We now plan to use Purebond in our projects because the company provides products that celebrate Pacific Northwest woods without added formaldehydes.
I also discovered a high-performance biomaterial created from mushrooms and agricultural waste! Ecovative materials are used for packaging, insulation, structural substrate and even surfboards. The best part is that all of Ecovative’s ingredients are renewable and non-toxic.
This year at the Expo, I know that I’ll find more great products that are propelling the building industry toward a healthier place. The companies that participate in the Expo are successful because they are cross-disciplinary and willing to collaborate. Many of the most useful conversations that I had last year were with permaculture Supply Chain Specialists, chemists, and representatives from a cosmetic company. Join me at the Living Product Expo to work together to expand the ever-growing spread of healthy materials.
To meet Cara Rude and partake in the Living Product Expo experience, join us September 13-15 in Pittsburgh. Register here.
