This report was developed in response to the need for a strategic overview of global innovation trends and the role that standards can and do play in supporting them. Multi-faceted internally and externally, it provides information like:

• an overview of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) supported
• highlights of ASTM’s 125th Anniversary Case Study Winners, recognized as "high impact" standards throughout the repor

New sustainable transportation modes for travel and commerce are currently under development, such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, which are anticipated to allow rapid, zero-emission transport of passengers and goods. These developments are being complemented by the expansion of infrastructure to ensure the safe use of drones and passenger aircraft.

More consumers are demanding transparency in the safety and environmental aspects of products, and advances in diagnostics and health monitoring technologies are helping to usher in an era of more proactive, patient-driven healthcare. In addition, there is increasing emphasis on consumer safety issues such as the removal of toxic chemicals from products and transparency regarding product ingredients.

There is a growing demand worldwide for sustainable construction focused on more effective use of resources to build healthier, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly homes. In addition, communities are placing greater attention on natural hazard mitigation planning and community resilience solutions to respond to the impacts of carbon emissions. 

Manufacturers are increasingly adopting Industry 4.0 digitalization technologies to enhance manufacturing safety, productivity, and flexibility while making increased use of digital warehousing, automation, mass customization, and on-demand production. Revised in February 2025.

Global shifts toward clean energy economies are driving the development of safer and more environmentally friendly fuel alternatives, increasing the share of renewable energy sources and storage technologies, and sparking a renaissance in nuclear power research to meet future energy capacity needs.