Materials scarcity

Abstract

Societal stakeholders are expressing concerns over the increasing scarcity of critical elements on which high-tech industries rely. Geochemical rare elements are indispensable in producing high-tech products such as electronic gadgets and renewable energy technologies. The surge in demand for critical elements presents a risk of exhaustion of available mineral resources. The consequences appear severe and may include high price volatility, supply disruptions and geopolitical conflicts. Materials scarcity can affect the transition towards a sustainable society if supply shortages of critical elements curb the proliferation of green technologies. This situation presents the world with a range of multidimensional complex problems, sometimes termed ‘wicked’ problems. Industrial design engineers, with their multidisciplinary design approach, are well equipped to be able to thrive in such a period of change. Industrial design can contribute to more efficient use of scarce materials by exploring design options to eliminate or substitute them. Designing products for longer life spans, and facilitating predicted reuse as well as high intensity recycling can be part of possible solution strategies. This scoping paper reviews important aspects of material scarcity and aims to define and delineate the topic for the industrial design engineering community. The risk of material scarcity poses a challenge in finding innovative approaches and methods that will help to counteract the depletion of scarce materials. This prompts us to re-examine and reframe the curriculum of higher education in industrial design and to outline elements of a new agenda for resource-aware industrial design.