A report published by Material Innovation Initiative calls on fashion brands and textile manufacturers to invest in next-generation materials.

The US-based think tank has identified next-generation materials as a leading, high-growth industry, which is inspiring scientists, designers and consumers. The paper titled “why to invest in next-gen materials” details how these materials could offer an opportunity to reduce the biggest environmental impact of the textile industry.

“Next-gen materials” are a new wave of innovative materials, offering superior properties, sustainability and performance compared to traditional materials. These materials are often derived from renewable resources, bio-based materials or advanced manufacturing techniques.

They offer alternatives to traditional petrochemical and animal-based materials such as silk, down and fur. These traditional materials bring challenges such as having high CO2 emissions, creating biodiversity loss and microplastic pollution, plus widespread forced labour and the slaughter of wild and farmed animals every year.

The report found 65% of a brand’s environmental footprint comes from raw materials, highlighting a key area to implement change and meet sustainable targets. In 2023, despite a global backdrop of falling venture capital investments, the next-gen materials’ sector had a