International conference put sustainable flame-retardant materials in the spotlight

More than 60 researchers, academics and industry professionals from 17 countries gathered at Luleå University of Technology for ECOFRAM 2026, the fifth International Conference on Eco-Friendly Flame Retardant Additives and Materials. Over three days, participants shared the latest advances in sustainable flame-retardant materials and discussed how fire safety can be combined with growing environmental demands.

“We are very proud that ECOFRAM 2026 brought together so many participants from around the world. Welcoming researchers and industry professionals from 17 countries to Luleå created an inspiring environment for exchanging ideas and building new collaborations. The strong international interest confirms that eco-friendly flame-retardant materials are an increasingly important research field,” says Elif Kaynak, Post Doc in Fire Technology and Organizing Chair of ECOFRAM 2026.

Hosted by the Fire Technology research subject at Luleå University of Technology, the conference highlighted one of today's major challenges: developing flame-retardant materials that provide reliable fire safety while reducing environmental impact and improving recyclability.

From algae to fire-safe wood

The conference opened with the Midnight Sun Lecture at Vetenskapens Hus, where Professor Emeritus Björn Karlsson reflected on the development of fire safety research and the challenges facing sustainable materials. During the following two days, the programme featured 30 oral presentations, four invited lectures and a poster session.

Research presented at the conference covered a broad range of topics, including algae-derived flame retardants, advanced protective coatings and the fire behaviour of natural materials such as wool, silk, feathers and leather. Fire-safe wood products and wood-based materials attracted particular interest, generating lively discussions among participants.

A growing international research community

Invited lectures by internationally recognised researchers Baljinder Kandola, Jaime C. Grunlan, Thomas Mayer-Gall and Jozef Martinka provided new perspectives on natural-fibre composites, environmentally friendly flame retardants and innovative fire-safe materials.

“The discussions throughout the conference clearly showed that the future of flame-retardant materials depends on balancing fire safety with sustainability. Bringing together experts from different disciplines and sectors is essential for addressing these challenges, and ECOFRAM provides an important platform for that exchange,” says Elif Kaynak.

By bringing together researchers and industry representatives from across the world, ECOFRAM 2026 strengthened international collaboration in a research field that is becoming increasingly important for safer, more sustainable materials in construction, transport, electronics and renewable energy technologies.