The eco-friendly radiator model made from wine waste won the international award for the green product that received the most votes from the public and the jury among the 50 finalists, with more than 55,000 votes cast between December and January.
On May 28, the International Green Product Awards were presented at Berlin’s historic Cinema Colosseum. Under the guiding theme “Shape what matters,” the awards celebrated outstanding sustainable products, concepts, and materials from around the world.
Out of a total of 1,200 entries from 54 countries, the best projects were honored in 12 categories, including interior design, consumer goods, architecture, mobility, fashion, and new materials. Among the winning projects were entries from established brands, innovative startups, and students from four continents.
The “UBRIAACO” radiant heating project presented by MAARMO srl was voted the most popular product by both the public and the jury, thus winning the “Green Product Audience Award 2026”; Between November 2025 and January 2026, more than 50,000 votes were cast by the international community of designers and architects, the vast majority of whom were won over by MAARMO’s project.
The UbriAAco project stems from a commitment to local sourcing and circularity; it is the first drinkable radiant heater, aged in barriques, that gives new life to the valuable byproducts of another great “Made in Italy” industry, wine production, adding the olfactory dimension.
The material used to create this unique heated towel rack combines production byproducts from two major “Made in Italy” products: marble and wine. The manufacturing process involves aging the heated towel rack in barriques, immersed in red wine byproducts collected from various wineries in the region. After a patient drying phase, the surface takes on a wine-red hue that, once the heater is turned on, releases a unique fragrance, a blend of the scent of grape must and freshly baked bread, that reconnects us with nature and our memories.
This model is a special version of MAARMO’s eco-friendly radiators, made using the waste powder generated during marble cutting in the Veronese quarries; this waste is mixed with water, creating the famous “marble cream” that is poured into a mold, just like a cake. Thanks to its special formula, the cream sets without any baking, that is, through a cold-setting process, resulting in a marble panel that guarantees a “zero-impact” product. Once set, the panel requires a “curing” phase in a room maintained at a constant temperature. To further reinforce its eco-friendly credentials, the finish, strictly water-based, is then applied by hand with a brush.
This achievement is further confirmation of MAARMO’s value and role as a leader among Northeast Italy’s sustainable design companies – says Gianpaolo Pezzato, president of MAARMO srl, with satisfaction and a touch of emotion – with a series of important accolades we’ve received over the past 12 months. This is a sign that strengthens our determination to pursue our vision: the valorization of manufacturing waste from the main “Made in Italy” supply chains, helping to create consumers who are more aware and responsible for their choices, both in terms of purchasing and how they spend their time.
In April 2025, MAARMO was awarded the “Premio Impresa Ambiente 2025,” Italy’s most prestigious award dedicated to companies that have demonstrated innovation in the fields of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. That same month, at the 2025 Salone del Mobile in Milan, it was honored by Forbes Italia as a 2025 “Italian Excellence” awardee for its innovation and commitment to sustainable luxury and the circular economy, followed by a Special Mention in the “Just Transition” category of the award promoted by ASviS, the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development. In November, it was named one of the three finalists for the “Foreign Press Innovation Award,” which is reserved for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and other Italian organizations that stand out for their innovative projects aimed at promoting the excellence of “Made in Italy” on an international level. In 2026, it was honored at the Salone del Mobile with the Confartigianato Special Award as part of the Circular Excellence Award organized by the COGEME Foundation.
THE COMPANY:
MAARMO was founded in 2017 and manufactures designer radiators using production processes based on environmental responsibility and sustainability. Since September 2021, the company’s production facility has been located in Villotta di Chions (PN), while its research and development division is based in Vittorio Veneto (TV). The raw material used is, in fact, derived from marble dust waste, requiring no specific treatment processes and, consequently, no additional energy consumption. Once the structural heating elements have been removed, all radiators can be ground down again and reintroduced into the production cycle.
