Material Intelligence at NeoCon 2025: Reshaping Sustainable Design Conversations with Kenn Busch
In this special NeoCon 2025 preview episode, host Robert Nieminen chats with sustainability journalist and educator Kenn Busch, founder of Material Intelligence and Climate Positive Now. Together, they explore what’s in store at this year’s Material Intelligence: Destination NeoCon Pavilion—a hands-on, narrative-driven space that reframes how designers and specifiers engage with sustainable materials.
Kenn shares how the pavilion evolved from its “materials petting zoo” roots to a vibrant hub for carbon-smart design, including the debut of eco-conscious display tables made from repurposed shipping pallets. From thermally treated wood and 3D laminates to composite panels with negative carbon footprints, this episode unpacks the stories, systems, and synergies behind climate-positive design.
Whether you're headed to Chicago or following from afar, this conversation will inspire you to rethink the role of materials in shaping healthier, smarter, and more sustainable interiors.
Meet Our Guest
Kenn Busch is a longtime journalist, educator and public speaker dedicated to bridging the knowledge gap between materials, sustainability, and furniture and interior architecture. He is the founder of MaterialIntelligence.com and ClimatePositiveNOW.org, two major resources for design and manufacturer specifiers.
