04/06/2026
In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter claiming that you can count on only two things in life: death and taxes. He wasn’t the first to have made the assertion. Had he been writing in 2026, he may have broadened his scope to include both war and legislation, and the huge impact that each has beyond its own arena.
Take membranes, as an example. Both war and legislation – e.g. European Commission’s PVDF restriction proposals – are shaping the membrane market through price rises and material restrictions.
Membrane technologies have come a long way since regulations were introduced in the 1990s, for example, in the UK and the USA, to specify their use in certain drinking water applications.
While polymeric membranes dominate ceramics in the market, there may soon be a surge in the latter’s popularity for two reasons, says Graeme Pearce, director of Membrane Consultancy Associates Ltd: war and impending regulation.
Here, he explains to Aquatech Online why the wars in Ukraine and Iran have affected membrane prices. He also shares his thoughts on what the European Union’s proposed restriction or ban on PVDF membranes will mean for the sector, highlighting some ongoing grey areas, before sharing his thoughts on recent developments in ceramics.
Nanostone Water
Read our full story here: https://www.aquatechtrade.com/water-stories/water-treatment/the-membrane-market-counts-the-cost-of-war-and-legislation.
