These 6 companies show that Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are still cradles of innovation

There is apparently no problem too big for the EMEA region to solve, as the 2026 World Changing Ideas honorees clearly show. Across the European continent, companies are reckoning with the issues of our time, including curbing water waste in farming, domesticating lithium mining, and showing therapeutic activity within cancer cells in real time. Winners Bioplates, SN Portugal. A major barrier steering high-end hotels away from using eco-friendly tableware has been a less-than-luxury appearance. SN Portugal has overcome that hurdle by producing sustainable plates that are 40 times more durable than porcelain and have a premium look. In 2025, Bioplates transformed from a concept to a market-ready product. Made from proprietary bioplastic, the plates replace toxic materials like melamine and the need for single-use plastics, which create plastic waste and have a high carbon footprint. A series of tests last year at the University of Aveiro showed that Bioplates can withstand 7,000 industrial washes and temperatures up to 226°F, while a carbon assessment proved their carbon negativity. The company also picked up biodegradability certifications as well as a 2025 World Sustainability Award. The testing has also expanded to luxury European hospitality groups including Six Senses and Aethos, which have confirmed successful use at their resorts, beach clubs, and weddings—including at dinners from Michelin Green Star chefs. Direct lithium extraction in Northern England, EvoveThough electric vehicles are significantly more sustainable than combustion-engine autos over the course of their lifespan, they actually generate more carbon than gas cars during the manufacturing process. That’s largely due to mining for lithium, which takes place around the world before it’s typically refined in China then fitted into batteries in Southeast Asia. A much cleaner option, direct lithium extraction (DLE), is an emerging technology—and Evove is building the U.K.’s first DLE plant in the north