3D printed NeverEnding furniture made from local waste streams of natural fibres and plastics. Office desks and tables fitted out with innovative #greengridz worktops made with 60 to 90% less material and a 60% lower CO2 footprint. EverUse acoustic panels made from recycled old clothing. And products returning to your office made of your own waste.

His approach combines material innovation with system change. The result? A growing portfolio of projects that are as inspiring as they are instructive for architects, interior designers, and product developers seeking sustainable alternatives.

From Local Plastic to High-Quality Furniture

At the heart of TRIBOO’s operations is a decentralised production model powered by digital workflows and local manufacturing. Furniture components are designed parametrically and 3D printed using locally sourced waste streams from natural fibres and plastics, cutting down on transport emissions and allowing for just-in-time, location-specific production.

One of TRIBOO’s most notable achievements to date is the full circular furnishing of Movares Group’s offices—an engineering consultancy with 12 branches across the Netherlands. A unique circular furniture subscription model is the financial construct for the complete inventory. More than 1,000 desks, cabinets and meeting tables were manufactured with 15.000 kilo less material and a 60% lower CO2 footprint. 750 kilos of old army clothing was recycled and used as textile in the acoustic desk dividers. 3D printed tables from 100% recycled content, modular soft seating and furniture made from reclaimed wood. For Movares, the choice was about more than sustainability—it was a practical and scalable solution that aligned with their engineering ethos.

This project exemplifies van der Heijden’s belief that design and logistics must go hand in hand to achieve true circularity. “If we want to keep materials in the loop, we need to rethink the whole production system—not just the material itself,” he said in a recent interview.

Circular Innovation: Greengridz and Beyond

One of van der Heijden’s key innovations is #greengridz—a lightweight, durable and fully circular sheet material used for the production of worktops and furniture applications. In 10 years' time the goal is to replace all traditional massive furniture panels in the European market and beyond with #greengridz. Refusing the use of material, so there is less recycling needed and the waste problem becoming smaller and smaller.

By closing the material loop on these surfaces—often considered low-value and hard to recycle—TRIBOO has demonstrated the commercial potential of true end-of-life recovery.

The Greengridz platform also gives designers more creative flexibility. The panels can be CNC milled and combined with 3D printed elements, allowing for hybrid structures that are both functional and expressive. For architects and interior designers, this presents a new design language—one that is digital, modular, and circular by default.

Furniture-as-a-Service: Rethinking Ownership

Van der Heijden doesn’t just challenge how furniture is made—he challenges how it’s owned. TRIBOO’s Furniture-as-a-Service model allows clients to lease products for a fixed period, after which they can be returned, refurbished, or recycled.

This approach ensures that materials remain within TRIBOO’s circular ecosystem, reducing waste and encouraging more responsible use. For clients, it offers flexibility and transparency: predictable costs, lower environmental impact, and a clear materials passport for each item.

The company has implemented this model for several corporate clients and public sector organisations, including city governments and real estate developers seeking long-term, adaptive furnishing solutions. It also aligns with emerging procurement frameworks in the EU that prioritize circular tenders and be compliant with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

Empowering the Design Community

While TRIBOO’s technology is impressive, van der Heijden is quick to point out that it’s only part of the story. “Circularity is about collaboration,” he often says. “We work with designers, manufacturers, municipalities and recyclers to create a system that works for everyone.”

To that end, TRIBOO operates an open design network where architects and designers can co-develop furniture collections using local material streams. The company provides digital tools, material guidance, and access to its distributed printing network—lowering the barrier for small studios to experiment with circular design.

This collaborative model has already led to successful new product lines, such as a modular #greengridz table series designed for Goossens Wonen, one of the largest furniture retailers in the Netherlands and Belgium. The tables are made with less material, less CO2 and less waste and the consumers love and buy it. Their choice and buying power are Influencing the direction that the assortment is going and proving that circular furniture can be both scalable and commercially viable.

Looking Ahead

Marc van der Heijden’s impact goes beyond his own company. He’s a thought leader in the Dutch circular economy scene, contributing to public initiatives like the Green Deal Circular Procurement and advising on sustainability policy in design and architecture sectors.

For the design community, his work offers a tangible example of how circularity can be embedded at every level—from material choice and product design to business models and supply chains. He doesn’t just talk about the future—he’s building it, piece by piece, from the plastic waste we throw away.

‍