Material ConneXion runs what its founder calls a “petting zoo for new materials.” They have a library of 3,000 unusual materials which architects and designers use to find the latest nifty gel, resin, foam, laminate, paneling, etc, for their projects. A recent addition to their archives is a plastic sheeting made with recycled coffee grounds. “You can imagine how much coffee waste there is in America.” (from a NY Times article)