Many healthcare environments are built with minimal input from infection prevention specialists, and as a result, design decisions inadvertently create conditions that enable microbial persistence, proliferation, and transmission. With the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) accelerating globally, rethinking how we design and build healthcare spaces is no longer optional, it is essential.

In extreme environments where access to water and regular laundering is impossible, textiles become more than simply clothing or bedding. They are integral to maintaining hygiene, comfort, and even survival. In spacecraft, submarines, polar research stations, military operations, disaster relief zones, and remote exploration sites, prolonged missions in confined and resource-limited settings create the ideal conditions for microbial growth.

Antimicrobial materials are emerging as a critical class of engineered substances designed to reduce the spread of harmful microorganisms on surfaces and within products. These materials—capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses—have transitioned from niche applications to mainstream integration.

Many healthcare environments are built with minimal input from infection prevention specialists, and as a result, design decisions inadvertently create conditions that enable microbial persistence, proliferation, and transmission. With the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) accelerating globally, rethinking how we design and build healthcare spaces is no longer optional, it is essential.

While antimicrobial materials have traditionally been associated with healthcare and consumer goods, their application in aerospace and defence is gaining momentum. Industry leaders are beginning to see the value of embedded antimicrobial technologies — additives or treatments integrated directly into polymers, coatings, and textiles — as a passive, self-sustaining defence mechanism.

In today’s climate-conscious and performance-driven world, comfort is more than a luxury — it’s an expectation. Whether for athletes, outdoor workers, or everyday wearers navigating rising global temperatures, textile cooling technology has emerged as a game-changing innovation.