Material innovation takes two forms. You can develop alt materials that have less impact on the planet, or you can take existing fossil fuel-based materials and develop circular recycling systems to keep them out of landfills and use them again. Both innovations are exciting and both are hard.
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The good news is that VC funding in the green space has bounced back, albeit with a more selective approach that shifts the investing vibe from “gold rush” to “growth state.” In fact, biomaterials start-ups pulled in $392 million during the first quarter of 2025 alone, per Net Zero Insights — underscoring that next-gen investors are coming back after a few quiet years. Also back is the Material Innovation Initiative — the next-gen material innovation think tank that shuttered operations in September but quickly reopened after a cash infusion.
In this episode, Alex Harrell, sustainability and innovation reporter of WWD’s sister publication Sourcing Journal, dives into SJ’s Material Innovation Report with Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, about what’s new and what’s next in material innovation, and why “innovation tourism” is slowing progress.