The sustainable materials roadmap
File(s)Titirici_2022_J._Phys._Mater._5_032001.pdf (18.95 MB)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Over the past 150 years, our ability to produce and transform engineered materials has been responsible for our current high standards of living, especially in developed economies. However, we must carefully think of the effects our addiction to creating and using materials at this fast rate will have on the future generations. The way we currently make and use materials detrimentally affects the planet Earth, creating many severe environmental problems. It affects the next generations by putting in danger the future of the economy, energy, and climate. We are at the point where something must drastically change, and it must change now. We must create more sustainable materials alternatives using natural raw materials and inspiration from nature while making sure not to deplete important resources, i.e. in competition with the food chain supply. We must use less materials, eliminate the use of toxic materials and create a circular materials economy where reuse and recycle are priorities. We must develop sustainable methods for materials recycling and encourage design for disassembly. We must look across the whole materials life cycle from raw resources till end of life and apply thorough life cycle assessments (LCAs) based on reliable and relevant data to quantify sustainability. We need to seriously start thinking of where our future materials will come from and how could we track them, given that we are confronted with resource scarcity and geographical constrains. This is particularly important for the development of new and sustainable energy technologies, key to our transition to net zero. Currently 'critical materials' are central components of sustainable energy systems because they are the best performing. A few examples include the permanent magnets based on rare earth metals (Dy, Nd, Pr) used in wind turbines, Li and Co in Li-ion batteries, Pt and Ir in fuel cells and electrolysers, Si in solar cells just to mention a few. These materials are classified as 'critical' by the European Union and Department of Energy. Except in sustainable energy, materials are also key components in packaging, construction, and textile industry along with many other industrial sectors. This roadmap authored by prominent researchers working across disciplines in the very important field of sustainable materials is intended to highlight the outstanding issues that must be addressed and provide an insight into the pathways towards solving them adopted by the sustainable materials community. In compiling this roadmap, we hope to aid the development of the wider sustainable materials research community, providing a guide for academia, industry, government, and funding agencies in this critically important and rapidly developing research space which is key to future sustainability.
Date Issued
2022-07-01
Date Acceptance
2022-01-25
Citation
Journal of Physics: Materials, 2022, 5 (3), pp.1-98
ISSN
2515-7639
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Start Page
1
End Page
98
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Physics: Materials
Volume
5
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000835957900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/S006079/1
EP/S006079/2
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science
research
project
materials
sustainable
sustainable materials
DIRECT (HETERO)ARYLATION POLYMERIZATION
BIO-BASED PLASTICS
POROUS CARBON
ACTIVE-SITES
CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS
MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES
ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT
CONJUGATED POLYMERS
INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
ION BATTERIES
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 032001
Date Publish Online
2022-08-04