The R100 project uses Hydro CIRCAL 100R aluminium to demonstrate ultra-local circular design, taking material from scrap to object within a 100 km radius. At Milan Design Week 2025, Hydro challenged five designers to transform locally sourced, post-consumer aluminium into functional objects using only local facilities. This approach reduced transportation emissions by 90 percent compared to the previous 100R exhibition on the same material.

The resulting designs range from sculptural lighting to furniture-like forms, created without restrictions on scale or typology. Designers such as Sabine Marcelis and Daniel Rybakken were free to experiment and innovate. By keeping every stage of the process, from urban-mined scrap collection to manufacturing, within the same region, Hydro minimized carbon footprint while ensuring full material traceability and creative transparency. The R100 initiative sets a new standard for combining sustainability, design innovation, and local production.

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Hydro