Top 10: Sustainable Innovations

Innovation has always been at the heart of human progress, but as we face growing environmental crises, its role has never been more crucial.

Climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, extreme weather and rising sea levels are no longer distant threats – they are urgent realities.

Businesses around the world are stepping up to answer the call, combining science and creativity to shape the future with sustainable solutions.

From pioneering new materials to revolutionising energy production, these breakthroughs aren’t just good for the planet – they also present huge, lucrative business opportunities, proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

10: AI climate forecasting

9: Green hydrogen production

Siemens Energy’s Elyzer portfolio aims to generate green hydrogen efficiently from water and renewable energy using Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology. 

The company joined forces with Air Liquide to create a joint venture dedicated to the production of industrial-scale renewable hydrogen electrolysers. 

In 2023 it started production of electrolysis stacks which will supply Siemens Energy and Air Liquide for its customers.

"There is no energy transition without green molecules,” explains Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy.

8: Next-gen plastic alternatives

Plastic pollution is a global crisis, and Notpla is leading the way in creating truly biodegradable alternatives.

The company’s seaweed-based packaging solutions offer a natural, compostable alternative to traditional plastic, breaking down completely without leaving behind microplastics.

The company already has high-profile collaborations under its belt, with the likes of Just Eat and Decathlon using their product as an alternative to plastic-based packaging.

As regulations tighten around single-use plastics, this pioneering material provides a practical, sustainable, scalable alternative.

7: Vertical farming

6: Dissolvable plastic

Japanese researchers from RIKEN and the University of Tokyo have developed a ground-breaking plastic that dissolves completely in seawater within hours, leaving no microplastics. 

Made using supramolecular chemistry, the material consists of ionic monomers linked by reversible salt bonds, maintaining strength during use but rapidly breaking down in marine environments. 

It fully decomposes in soil within ten days, releasing nutrient-rich by-products. 91% of its primary component can be recovered, too, making it highly recyclable.

5: Methane tamer

Methane Tamer is a plant-based livestock feed supplement developed by CH4 Global to significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle. 

Using Asparagopsis seaweed as its key ingredient, the product has been shown to cut enteric methane emissions by up to 90%. 

Mitsubishi Corporation has partnered with CH4 Global to scale production, navigate regulatory approvals and promote commercial adoption.

With global meat demand rising, Methane Tamer presents a scalable solution to mitigate agriculture’s climate impact and support international net zero efforts.

4: Sustainable aviation fuel

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is beginning to take flight.

United Airlines is currently the biggest purchaser of SAF, having secured 2.9 billion gallons through offtake agreements and investments, far surpassing other airlines in SAF procurement.

SAF production still requires scaling, but United is invested in its future. 

"We have the technological solutions,” says Lauren Riley, United’s CSO. 

“Now we need to align the economic incentives to make sustainable aviation the preferred path forward."

3: Bio-based textiles

The fashion industry is one of the world economy’s largest polluters, but Spinnova is challenging that status quo with its sustainable textile fibres.

Made from wood pulp without harmful chemicals, Spinnova’s fibres use 99% less water than cotton and produce significantly lower emissions.

Unlike synthetic fabrics, they are biodegradable and fully recyclable, reducing textile waste in landfills.

Major fashion brands like PUMA are investing in Spinnova’s products as part of their sustainability and ESG efforts.

2: Smart water purification

Access to clean water is a growing challenge, but Desolenator’s solar-powered water purification technology offers a sustainable solution.

Unlike conventional desalination, which is energy-intensive and polluting, Desolenator uses only solar energy to turn seawater into drinkable freshwater.

This self-sustaining system is ideal for remote communities and disaster-stricken areas, providing an affordable and eco-friendly way to tackle global water scarcity.

1: Direct air capture

Phlair has developed an innovative direct air capture (DAC) technology that addresses the high energy consumption typically associated with carbon capture. 

The technology, which is backed by Frontier (a group of companies including Stripe, Google, Shopify, McKinsey and Meta), uses an electrochemical process that eliminates the need to heat and cool capture materials, significantly improving efficiency.

The system can operate flexibly based on renewable energy availability, adjusting its energy use according to solar power fluctuations. 

During peak electricity periods, it can partially shut down while continuing other operations. 

The technology aims to achieve energy requirements below 1.5 MWh per tonne of CO₂ captured – about 1.3 times lower than comparable systems.

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