Plastic leathers have been a longstanding vegan leather alternative; however, concerns around their petrochemical feedstocks, disposal, and microplastics are beginning to outweigh their low costs for some companies. With sustainability-focused projects on the rise across many sectors, newer types of leather, including mycelium, plant-based, microbial, and lab-grown, are beginning to emerge as more environmentally friendly options.

Self-healing concrete aims to mitigate economic losses caused by corrosion and degradation of concrete, such as the need for repair or replacement, maintenance costs, and disruptions caused by downtime. Bacteria-based approaches are leading the way for self-healing concrete.

Tuesday 13 May 2025 - Are Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Ready for Large Scale Commercialization?; An overview of emerging MOF-based technologies approaching commercialization; Material choices and considerations for MOFs in key applications, such as carbon capture and water harvesting; Scaling MOF production for industrial applications; Market status and outlook for MOF demand based on IDTechEx forecasts

This article discusses the potential of alternative chemical feedstocks, such as lignocellulosic waste, to produce sustainable chemicals. Next-generation chemical feedstocks are a vital tool in the global effort towards decarbonization.

The multitude of battery chemistries available for different EV types means that a variety of safety materials to accommodate their requirements are also necessary. IDTechEx's VP of Research, Dr James Edmondson, presented at the Plastics in Electric & Autonomous Vehicles Conference 2025 - SPE Automotive Division on topics including evolving vehicle technology and materials, while Technology Analyst, Mika Takahashi, covered the wider EV sector.

Thursday 15 May 2025 - How and Why the Ion Exchange Membrane Market Is Preparing for Growth in the Coming Next Decade; An overview of ion exchange membrane materials and their common applications; Key performance requirements and material development trends; Growth markets for ion exchange membrane technology; An overview of the state of the ion exchange membrane market in 2025 and IDTechEx's 10-year market outlook

In the past 5 years, the commercial perception of fusion energy has shifted considerably and is now increasingly seen as a key component of the green energy transition. But what factors led to this shift, and what does a realistic future for the fusion energy industry look like?

White biotechnology, which uses engineered microbes to produce chemicals, materials, and fuels, is emerging as a key driver of the sustainable bioeconomy by offering lower-carbon alternatives to fossil-based manufacturing. Advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and regulatory support are expanding their applications across industries, though commercial success depends on factors like scalability, process efficiency, and market acceptance of green premiums.

Due to the growing concerns surrounding the health of humans and the environment as a result of PFAS, regulations are being put in place worldwide. While many countries still have no restrictions on PFAS usage, other countries, specifically within the EU, are potentially facing a universal PFAS ban.

Thursday 8 May 2025 - Surviving the Heat, Heat Shields for Atmospheric Re-Entry in an Increasingly Commercial Space Industry; Outline the role and function of TPS; Delineate the key categories of TPS, from tile-based systems to ablators and hypersonic expandable decelerators; Examine the key requirements of TPS, from a technical and economic perspective, as well as emerging use-cases; Give a brief outlook for the market over the next decade

Wednesday 7 May 2025 - Green Steel Market: Key Drivers, Production Pathways, Innovations, and Offtake Sectors; Overview of the iron and steel supply chain, including low-carbon and green steel; Key drivers for the steel decarbonization and the green steel market, including policies and incentives in key regions; Key innovations in iron and steel production technology; Main sectors adopting green steel and a market outlook

This article analyzes the significant impact of recent US tariffs on the EV charging market, affecting both the physical charging equipment and the broader electrical infrastructure required to support it.

The environment often pays a price for the comforts of modern life. Every year on Earth Day, the world reflects on pathways towards a greener economy that promotes resource circularity and a lower carbon footprint.

Self-healing concrete aims to mitigate economic losses caused by corrosion and degradation of concrete, such as the need for repair or replacement, maintenance costs, and disruptions caused by downtime. Bacteria-based approaches are leading the way for self-healing concrete.

Advanced carbon materials can be described as a family, made up of a diverse array of 3D, 2D, 1D, and 0D materials, each with its own properties and best-suited applications. IDTechEx's research provides in-depth analysis of the market impact of each material type, and their individual use cases from high-end sporting goods to R&D materials that are beginning to mature.

Aerogel demand for EV fire protection grew by 15-fold between 2021 and 2024, according to IDTechEx, with key manufacturers shifting towards leveraging the growing aerogel manufacturing capacity in China to meet demand. But, with the US imposing tariffs on China and other global partners, what does this mean for the aerogels market?

Fire safety continues to be a key topic for electric vehicles (EVs) as the market continues to grow. In this article, IDTechEx discusses the different types of EV battery chemistry and its impact on thermal runaway safety.

Recycling plastics from the automotive sector and reusing them in vehicle manufacturing processes will be critical in reducing resource consumption and the use of unsustainable plastics.

The EU has revised its End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive, lowering recycled plastic targets from 25% to 20% due to supply chain limitations, while maintaining stricter rules on recyclability, producer responsibility, and vehicle exports. IDTechEx forecasts that automakers will still face major hurdles, including limited material availability, high costs, and fragmented supply chains, in meeting these goals by 2035.

Battery raw materials are in the spotlight as lithium-ion demand surges alongside growing emphasis on sustainability. Variations in material emission intensities suggest that major decarbonization opportunities exist in raw materials sourcing.