The Sustainable Innovation 2025 Conference in Epsom, UK, brought together over 120 international delegates from diverse backgrounds including academics, practitioners, industry leaders, and policymakers. Marking 25 years of progress while looking ahead to 2050, the conference, organised by The Centre for Sustainable Design® (CfSD) at the University for the Creative Arts, reviewed how product design has evolved to meet global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity, becoming a core component of future business strategy.
The CfSD delivered a series of insightful presentations, starting with a comprehensive overview of the key framework changes and landmarks that have emerged in sustainable innovation over the last 25 years, charting the evolution from early environmental concerns to today’s complex policy landscape. The Center also shared key findings from its research on Product Circularity and Circular Business Models. As part of the EU Just Fashion project, CfSD presented its research on the EU policies and standards that are fundamentally reshaping the fashion and textile sector. The Just Fashion’s visibility at the conference was ensured by a dedicated banner that was seen by every attendee throughout the event.
The conference dedicated significant attention to the fashion and textile sector, with eight out of thirty presentations focused on its sustainable transformation. Key discussions included digital decarbonisation strategies for the supply chain and material innovation, featuring research on bio-based textiles and applications such as chitosan coatings for fashion items. Furthermore, presenters explored alternative economic approaches, including the principles of design for de-growth and new lease models, alongside showcasing EU initiatives like the Herewear project, the role of digital supply chain platforms, and the importance of improved textile labelling for enhanced circularity. The message was clear: sustainable innovation demands persistence, internal change, and deep collaboration. Cross-sector partnerships will be essential to meet accelerating regulatory pressure and future low-carbon demands over the next 25 years.
