Creating a more sustainable future — for our planet and for the building industry.
Who We Are
Flora Materials is a bio-materials company located in Carbondale, Colorado. We are a team of architects, product designers, engineers, chemists, and materials scientists committed to supporting a circular economy.
Right now, Flora Materials is developing next-generation flooring products engineered to meet the same standards of durability and longevity as Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), with the beauty and elegance of natural stone tile
Meet Our Team
Natalie York
Founder, Director of Research and Design
Adam Cook
Project Architect
Jeffrey Bates, Ph.D
Material Scientist
Lucas Bayer
Lead Engineer
Eliza Chemini
Lead Chemist
Rick Speas, Ph.D
Chemist and Production Equipment Coordinator
Partners & Collaborators
ESCO
Experts in polyurethane chemistry and manufacturing, ESCO partners with Flora to develop the bio-based polyurethane chemistry behind our products. Their team supports formulation testing while helping design the equipment needed for scalable, final production.
PUR Forms
A leading polyurethane molding company, PURforms supports Flora in scaling production from hand samples to machined manufacturing. Together, we are developing repeatable processes that inform long-term manufacturing equipment and workflows.
Focus Finishing
Specializing in high-performance surface coatings, Focus Finishing works with Flora during production scale-up to apply UV and wear-layer finishes. Together, we are refining surface preparation, application methods, temperature, and cure times to integrate coating seamlessly into the manufacturing process.
FOAM Surface
With expertise in precision fabrication and water-jet cutting, Foam Surface supports Flora by transforming large poured sheets into finished tiles. After coating, tiles are cut to size, edge-finished based on installation requirements, then packaged and prepared for shipment.
West 40 Studio
As an architecture and design partner, West 40 Studio works alongside Flora to install and evaluate materials in active building projects, providing immediate feedback on performance, installation and aesthetics during material development.
University of Utah
Leveraging academic research facilities, the University of Utah supports early-stage testing and development of Flora’s bio-derived resins and provides students with hands-on lab and internship experience in applied materials science.
The data is clear. Humans can’t keep building and using resources the way we always have. More than a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the building industry. Dozens of harmful chemicals are regularly used in the materials that go into our homes, workplaces, schools and more.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
As architects, materials scientists, engineers and product designers who have been working in this industry for years, we saw the opportunity – and the urgency – to find smarter, healthier ways to build.
So, we did.
Historically, ‘sustainable’ building materials came with either a caveat or a compromise – on aesthetics or cost or quality or durability. But technology and science are evolving – rapidly.
Bio-based materials are the future of the building industry.
Building on Proven Foundations to Create a Platform for Endless Possibility
Flora Materials’ products are a natural, ethically-responsible choice for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing their building experience with high-quality materials.
The ceiling for bio-based materials is high – starting with floors.
Right now, Flora Materials is developing next-generation flooring products engineered to meet the same standards of durability and longevity as Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), with the beauty and elegance of natural stone tile.
