The road to a circular, sustainable world requires a lot of innovation along the way. Crucial to this is finding alternative materials to produce the array of tools and items we use every day. We need to not only enable, but actively promote new breakthrough innovations that can make a real impact. From toothbrushes via houses to solar panels, the science of different materials has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental aspect in the next chapter of our sustainable development. This is what’s shaping everything from our everyday items, to how we produce energy and even explore new worlds.