The research is clear: Colour and texture can lower stress and improve memory. Soft earth tones create calm.
Natural-feeling spaces lead to longer stays and better emotional response in retail and hospitality.
So we made this new range:
11 Cleanstone colours—all earthy, soft, and grounded.
Designed to slow people down.
To make people feel something.
And while they look good, they also do good:
Made in Aotearoa from 98% recycled soft plastics with 2% natural pigments. No binders. No resins.
Diverts around 54kg of plastic per panel on average, durable, waterproof, and colourfast for benchtops, wall linings, and joinery
Here’s what we’re noticing:
More architects and designers are being recognised for their climate-conscious material choices
More clients are asking about supply chain, impact, and story
The most awarded spaces now are the ones that feel good and do good
And some of the best questions I heard from designers are:
Can design help people feel better?
Can it lower our carbon footprint?
Can it still win awards?
I think it can and it's exactly why.
We made Cleanstone Earthy tones to support designers who are doing just that.
And whānau, if you want materials that tell a better story— A story your clients can believe in—
Samples are up now at criticaldesign.nz.
Appreciate all the love and support through the years e te whānau!