Key Points
- 100% bio-based, plastic-free: EU-sourced plants and minerals; no petrochemical binders.
- Design-led R&D: Aesthetics first, then engineering, preserving raw scent, colour, and texture.
- Simple end-of-life: Materials intended to be compostable and recyclable; official biodegradability tests pending.
- From imitation to identity: Early lines mimicked leather; next phase aims for novel finishes (natural scents, translucency, particle effects).
- Local supply chains: Focus on EU inputs and toxin-free formulations to reduce footprint and improve traceability.
Full interview with NUVI
Could you elaborate on the challenges you faced in sourcing and utilising locally abundant, toxin-free materials at NUVI?
Striking the balance between what is sustainable and what is abundant has its challenges, but they are surmountable with fresh thinking, a will to succeed, and of course, the courage to make mistakes.
Over the years, we’ve tried and tested all sorts of raw materials, from teak leaves to chalk to marble, each time with a better understanding of what it takes to succeed - not just in terms of sustainability but also in terms of aesthetic desirability. This has resulted in a vast range of material sourcing possibilities.
NUVI’s commitment to our core value of sustainability has made plastic-free a huge rallying point for our team. We’re all committed to finding solutions, and our R&D department has continually sought to refine our bio-based materials formulations to reach higher performance levels. We are currently focused on EU-sourced materials, keeping our supply chain close to production while not compromising values.
Can you share insights into how NUVI's team approaches the R&D process to translate the raw beauty of plants and minerals into high-performance materials?
We’re about creating beautiful things without sacrificing performance.
Our formulation allows us to alchemise substances into materials in the simplest ways possible, naturally. When considering ingredients, we first begin with the most important question: What raw materials do we feel could be totally fresh and exciting? Only from there do we consider the technical possibilities - which we’ve always been able to solve.
Everything we do from there is geared towards showcasing the natural aesthetics of the raw plants and minerals selected. We never want to transform our materials in a way that detracts from the raw scent, color, and story of the source.
It’s also worth mentioning that this entire process wouldn’t be possible without our team, each contributing their unique culture, academics, and professional backgrounds. We believe it is this unconventional, complimentary blend of purpose-driven people that fosters our ability to learn, grow, and keep up our innovative pace.
How does NUVI ensure the lifecycle of your products embodies these principles from ideation through to end-of-life, particularly in terms of compostability and recycling?
Our approach is straightforward: Our materials originate from the earth and seamlessly return to it. Though official biodegradability tests are pending, there's no doubt our materials are compostable, even at home. There is no need for complex end-of-life solutions.
We prioritise simplicity, aiming for longevity and effortless disposal. From source material extraction to the eventual return to the earth, we keep the cycle natural and efficient.
Co-founder Nina Rössler's journey from a product designer disillusioned with the industry's priorities to NUVI is inspiring. How has this personal ethos shaped the company's approach?
When we discuss the essence of our NUVI ethos, it's crucial to recognise the key players who form the heart of our journey.
NUVI is the culmination of a designer, a yogi, and an engineer. Our eclectic, unusual combination of strengths (and weaknesses) has given us an edge and enabled us to succeed in areas where others failed.
Considering Nina as the designer and origin of it all, one must understand that NUVI, at its very core, was born from the desire to create beautiful things. And that is still where we dwell. NUVI was not born out of a lab or a university but simply the life experience of a woman who dared to take a chance.
The sustainability aspect was just a natural reflection of her appreciation of nature and her commitment to making a positive impact on the industry.
As a yogi, I've drawn upon the principles of ahimsa, respect for all living things, to guide our material choices and practices.
Andreas, Nina's father, further enriched our journey with his invaluable engineering expertise. Our ethos is clear: to better our planet and elevate humanity. It takes courage to challenge the status quo and reimagine norms, but Nina embodied that fearlessness, and we strive to honor her legacy in all we do.
The use of teak leaves as a leather alternative is remarkable. How do you balance preserving traditional knowledge with the need for technological advancement?
Humans have always looked to the past (roots, tradition, ancestors) for inspiration, especially when seeking a way forward. This is precisely what inspired Nina to embark on a vision quest, leaving the comforts and familiarity of home in search of something else.
And so, by following her designer's instinct and fearless traveling spirit, Nina found it not just in Northern Thailand's traditional Saa paper-making industry but in its forests - and within it, a profound gratitude for the natural elements in which we thrive.
In several ways, our material hasn’t changed so much since then. We’ve stayed rather true to its simplicity, as nature intended.
Looking to the future, what are the next steps for NUVI in pushing the boundaries of material innovation?
While the last couple of years has been focused on developing materials that mimic the look and feel of genuine and synthetic leather, NUVI is now focused on creating materials that, instead of replicating the past, define the future by leveraging the properties unique to our materials - such as natural scents, unadulterated colors, particle effects, and translucency. We want to offer designers materials that are much cooler and undeniably cutting-edge.
In a few years, it'll be them trying to imitate our materials. We're flipping the game on its head. While our past materials may have been leather-like (e.g., CRETA), our future materials will be nothing like it!
Finally, what message do you wish to convey to the broader industry and consumers about the importance of adopting sustainable materials and practices?
We recognise that sustainability is a factor - yet in addition, a successful material must also perform, be cost-effective and inspire designers. For this reason, we can’t expect people to buy our materials solely on their sustainability merits. This is why we have put an equal amount of emphasis on ensuring that our materials are engineered to scale, compete with leather prices, and, most importantly, capture the hearts and minds of designers not only with a diversity of natural looks and feels - but the countless stories that go with it.
Everytime you choose a sustainable material, you benefit the planet and support a movement for positive change. It's an invitation to be part of something bigger, a movement impacting our shared planet. You are becoming a part of the change you want to see in the world.
