Today's guest on Out of Material is a world-leading expert in materials research, Andrew Dent. Andrew is the Executive Vice President of Research at Material Connexion, a consultancy that matches clients from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies with innovative material solutions. TED have invited Andrew to speak on material strategies at multiple events, and he co-authored the Material Innovation book series.

If you think you know the constraints of material selection, think again. Andrew explains the shift from new material discovery to incremental product development, reveals difficult truths about sustainability, but expresses a belief in innovation as the route out of humanity's downward spiral.

Will people ever perceive plastic as a luxury material? How will the world adapt as industries transform in response to the climate crisis?