The Eco Materials Library at the Cruess Hall Makerspace at the UC Davis Department of Design is a collaborative project created to increase awareness around sustainable materials and digital fabrication. The Library has a public wall display with a grid system of moveable dowels and shelves for students to feature materials and prototypes. The project has a custom label system that features categories such as fugal, animal-based, mineral, microbial, plant-based, and recycled materials. The labels have icons that inform students if the material can be composited, locally sourced, laser cut, or recycled. The project is constantly evolving with student sample contributions and new future materials from global research.

The project team has set up a materials research lab with ingredients, plant leather dehydrator, mycelium drying oven, and industrial blender for innovative material science experimentation. Reducing reliance on plastic begins with increasing awareness and education as well as providing better alternatives. The project has been supported by the UC Davis Green Initiative Fund.