Sustainable materials for a circular economy: R&D trends for 2024

A unique snapshot of R&D trends in the circular economy, and the most promising research and breakthroughs being developed in universities and startups around the world.

The most promising early-stage research and assets, picked by the global R&D community

Industry insights

R&D decision-makers engaged with research and assets on our Connect platform submitted to the Global Challenge campaign.

Early-stage research trends

Discover the most promising technical approaches from academics and startups.

Global partnership trends

The challenge campaign engaged stakeholders across 6 continents working to commercialize research working towards a circular economy.

Industry demands innovation in bio-based materials

The results of this Global Challenge campaign show bio-based materials are the most popular technical approach among the circular economy R&D trends for 2024.

Submissions by country

Of the 103 submissions to the campaign, the majority came from the USA (54%), then the UK (15%), and Canada (8%). Tied for 4th place were Portugal and Slovenia, with 4% each.

USA

Canada

Portugal

Slovenia

Finland

Australia

Ireland

New Zealand

Other countries (including Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Spain)

Submissions, interactions, reads by specific approach

The technical approaches most favoured by industry included bio-based materials, and green chemistry and materials design. These approaches represented the largest proportion of submissions and saw the most industry reads and engagement.

Submissions

Interactions

Reads

Submissions by life cycle stage

50% of the submissions addressed the manufacturing and production stages of the materials life cycle. 25% were in the disposal and recycling stage, and 19% in raw material selection and extraction.

Raw material extraction and selection

Manufacturing and production

Transportation and distribution

Use and maintenance

Disposal and recycling

Hear from the experts

On the 15th of February, we will host an online panel event to discuss the results of this report and hear insights on future circular economy R&D trends from leading experts in academia and industry.

Reserve your free place here

Professor Rachael Rothman

Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering; Associate Director Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures — University of Sheffield

Kevin McCreight

Technology Fellow, External Innovation — Eastman Chemical Company

Addressing global challenges through innovation

Inpart's Global Challenge program is a unique mission-oriented challenge initiative launched during the pandemic in March 2020. This campaign was the 8th in the series. The campaigns leverage our online partnering networks to accelerate technical solutions to society’s greatest health and environmental challenges.