If you love design, you’ll probably love what we’re doing too. Because more and more designers are asking the same thing:
How do we balance aesthetics, performance and sustainability without compromising any?
It’s a real tension. WATCH VIDEO
You want materials that look beautiful and feel elevated.
You need materials that perform — tough, reliable, low maintenance.
And now, more than ever, they also need to be circular and low carbon.
Here’s why all 3 matter for your next build:
Aesthetics → Studies show people form first impressions of spaces in less than 50 milliseconds - insane right? Materials matter in setting that tone.
Performance → Retail and hospitality fit-outs often get replaced every 5–7 years. That’s costly and wasteful. Materials that can be reused or refreshed reduce that churn.
Sustainability → The built environment is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. Low carbon materials are no longer optional.
And as the CEO at Critical. - I hear this every day from designers who care.
That’s why we made Cleanstone. It looks good. It holds up. And it gives waste another life — every panel made from 100% recycled plastics, and recyclable again at end-of-life.
No landfill. No compromises. Just thoughtful material choices for spaces that work for their clients, win awards, and protect the planet.
So, which of the 3 drives your decisions right now?
Would love to hear your take in the comments.
And if you want to see Cleanstone up close, DM me or visit criticaldesign.nz — I'd love to show you how we help solve this balance every day.
Aesthetics vs Performance vs Sustainability: How Designers Are Balancing All Three with One Simple Material Choice
