A look at drivers, priorities, challenges and more.
 
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“Our recent survey shows that trade-offs are no longer accepted. Sustainability must perform, and sustainable materials are expected to match or exceed high-performance standards without escalating costs.”
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The global survey by IMCD Advanced Materials shows that our industry is gaining maturity in adopting sustainable solutions. Moreover, the majority states they will not accept any more trade-offs.
Early 2025, IMCD surveyed a wide-ranging group of industry professionals to learn more about today’s top sustainability practices, drivers, challenges, and more. Respondents from more than 40 countries answered our call, sharing their experiences in the plastics, polyurethane, composites, and rubber industries. Here are the key findings.
Who Took Part in the Survey?
75% of respondents came from companies already offering sustainable solutions. The other 25% offered the perspective of companies not yet selling sustainable products. Their insights were enriched with an industry report on the sustainability mindset of end-consumers.
Businesses Seek High-Performance Solutions
The industry must adopt more sustainable practices for both environmental and business reasons. Many companies recognise this and have worked to improve their environmental impact. Meanwhile, manufacturers and end-consumers continue to seek greener solutions.
However, cost and technical performance remain top barriers to adopting sustainability practices today. In fact, nearly half of all survey respondents say their biggest challenge with sustainable materials is their cost.
Moreover, respondents are no longer willing to accept trade-offs between sustainability, cost, and performance in 2025. They expect the whole package.
Now Is the Time for Sustainable Action
One thing is clear: sustainable manufacturing within the industry is no longer a new idea. Many of these practices have quickly gone from cutting-edge to expected. Companies now look for new ways to increase their green credentials and stand apart from the competition. At the same time, new environmental regulations and increasing consumer expectations provide further reasons to renew focus on sustainability.
At IMCD Advanced Materials, we are on a mission to champion our partners' sustainable journeys. We partner with leading industry innovators to provide the materials they need to take real action toward their environmental goals while producing top-line products.
Want Access to the Full Survey Insights?
Let us walk you through our findings and share ideas for how they apply to you. We have more data to share, including on topics like:
- Rates of adoption of each sustainability practice, including by region and industry
- The sustainability practices predicted to have the greatest impact in the near future
- What respondents think about greenwashing in the industry
The full survey results dive deep into the following eight sustainability practices:
- Biodegradables;
- CO₂ reduction;
- Compostables;
- End-of-life enhancement;
- Recycling;
- Renewable source materials;
- Waste reduction;
- Weight reduction.
Discover how we can help you with solutions that are better for your business and for the Earth.
