By Abbey Wilson

Green, sustainable materials from 15 different vendors were up for show at the New England School of Design’s annual Sustainable Design Trade Show.

Professor of Interior Architecture at NESAD, Karen Clarke, said that the focus of the show, which was held last Wednesday in the St. James Galleria Atrium, was to expose students to sustainable materials.

The show, which was put together by NESAD graduate students Meagan Campolong, Angela Lee, and Farida Sadliwala, displayed a wide variety of green products from fabrics made of recycled materials to water efficient toilets.

The bright sun shining in through the windows made for a great backdrop, especially to those vendors whose products can only really be appreciated by being held up to the light. The buzz of conversation filled the room as information flowed from vendors to attendees.

Walking through the crowded space, everyone listening to all the various pitches about the products being displayed felt a little like stepping into the future. Every product looked sleek and shiny, boasting of such terms as cradle-to-cradle, which means that the products are waste-free and made of recycled materials.

Many of the products had commercial uses, making their applications vast. All of the representatives of the companies were open, friendly and willing to answer any questions that arose. The show was a success, drawing a huge crowd.

Upon entry, attendees were given a bookmark with each vendor’s name on it and told that if they got all of the boxes signed, they could enter into a raffle to win a prize. The goal was to have everyone visit all of the vendors and learn as much as they could about sustainable materials.

Sherwin Williams, a company that produces paint, displayed its line of products that have no volatile organic compounds, making them safe to use in healthcare facilities, as well as their cans, which are made from recycled materials. Another company, Arc-Com Fabrics Inc., makes fabrics that are “made of recycled materials that also reduce pollution and waste,” according to their website.

One company, Patcraft, made a point to mention that its various flooring materials are inexpensive to install and maintain. This was an important point to make, as most environmentally friendly materials cost extra.

It was clear that the products displayed were all dedicated to making less of an impact on the environment while lasting a long time. The show exposed students to how accessible environmentally friendly materials are.