About the Event

The Rethinking Materials Summit will return to the Hilton London Bankside on April 28-29, 2026

This unique summit unites a diverse range of pioneers in next-gen materials, including manufacturers, producers, brands, investors and innovators, all driving sustainable change through creating, sourcing and commercialising new materials for consumer goods.

Pitch sessions, targeted networking, start-up exhibition and a 1-1 networking app make this a stand-out event for innovation discovery and partnerships.

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300+
Delegates
100+
Speakers
74%
CEO/Director-level
34
Countries

Featured Speakers in 2024

 

Key Themes

Regulatory and Policy Frameworks

Regulatory and Policy Frameworks: Stimulating action and incentivising innovation

Achieving Circularity

Achieving Circularity: Advancing mono-materials and system change enablers

Sustainability vs Cost

Sustainability vs Cost: Navigating green premiums for new materials in low-margin markets

Innovation for Scale

Innovation for Scale: Technology licensing, collaborative partnerships and system integration

Critical Raw Materials

Critical Raw Materials: Achieving resilient and diversified supply chains

Better Plastics

Better Plastics: Sustainable reformulations and circular solutions

Data-Driven Traceability

Data-Driven Traceability: Enhancing resource management and material flow transparency

Going Fibre-Based

Going Fibre-Based: Advancing performance and circularity of functional barrier coatings

Side Stream Circularity

Side Stream Circularity: Creating value from waste and by-products

Nature-Inspired Innovation

Nature-Inspired Innovation: Biomimicry and natural occurring polymers transforming consumer products

Financing the Green Transition

Financing the Green Transition: Investment, partnership strategies and innovative funding models

Greenwash to Green Deployment

Greenwash to Green Deployment: Fostering trust and breaking new ground through consortia

Key Themes

“Beiersdorf has an ambitious sustainability agenda, so we are keeping an open mind as to solutions and look forward to this event to find collaborators from across the value chain.”
Senior Scientist, Startup Scouting
BEIERSDORF, GERMANY
“This event is different as it proposes to bring together players from all different steps of the circular economy and, more importantly, talk about aspects of plastics that are often the “elephant in the room” that no one dares to discuss.”
Global Foods Packaging Director
UNILEVER, NETHERLANDS
“There is a need for all parties to be talking with each other, and to think in a different manner, as we move towards a circular economy. We won’t get anywhere without collaboration, so this event will play an important role in promoting the different types of solutions and the paths to scale.”
CEO
TOTAL CORBION PLA, SWITZERLAND