Making the Modern World Summary

How can we sustain our modern lifestyle while minimizing the environmental impact of the materials we use daily?

1. Raw Material Usage is Vast and Diverse

Modern economies rely on a stunning array of materials, often without consideration for their origins or environmental costs. To accurately assess material flows, surveys must include the extraction and processing of various raw resources.
Material categories span everything from agricultural goods (cotton, wool, seeds) to forestry products like paper and wood, as well as metals, industrial gases, and non-renewable organics derived from fossil fuels. These categories stem from early efforts, such as the U.S. Geological Survey's report from 1900-1995, which remains a reference today.
Hidden flows, like earth and rocks displaced to mine metals, further highlight the scale of material usage. While oxygen, water, food, and fuel are often excluded due to their vast quantities or separate analysis methods, understanding these exclusions provides a clearer picture of overall consumption.

Examples

• Cotton and wool categorized as agricultural raw materials.
• Earth movement required to extract minerals counted as hidden flows.
• Oxygen and water excluded to maintain focused quantitative analysis.

2. Human Eras are Defined by Their Materials

From prehistoric stone tools to today’s silicon chips, each era of human progress is closely linked to dominant materials. Prehistoric humans relied on stone for tools, ancient civilizations embraced the durability of stone and metal for construction, while wood remained central across all these periods.
The rise of metals like copper and steel reflected societal progress during the industrial era. Additionally, materials like paper and textiles became central, especially as industrial systems advanced their mass production. Plastic, however, revolutionized the 20th century by replacing traditional materials in various applications.
This pattern of reliance highlights how new materials augment or replace old ones. Despite the dominance of modern materials, traditional resources like wood remain significant due to their versatility.

Examples

• Prehistoric tools such as axes carved from carefully selected stones.
• Steel for bridges and skyscrapers revolutionized engineering.
• The 20th century saw mass paper production thanks to continuous paper-making machines.

3. Six Core Material Groups Sustain Modern Life

Everything around us depends on six major material categories: biomaterials, construction materials, metals, plastics, industrial gases, and electronics. These groups power industries and daily activities, ranging from construction projects to electronic gadgets.
Biomaterials like wood and cotton, while naturally declining, remain indispensable. Construction materials such as sand, stone, and concrete are crucial in building megacities. Meanwhile, metals, plastics, and industrial gases (e.g., oxygen), serve essential roles in manufacturing and technology.
Silicon, powering the electronics industry, defines our current innovation era – the Silicon Age. Together, these materials show how integral they are for human progress but also challenge us to sustainably manage their use.

Examples

• Global construction relies heavily on brick production, especially in China.
• Industrial gases enable efficient steel manufacturing.
• Silicon forms the backbone of computer microprocessors.

4. Tracking Materials is a Complex Science

Assembling materials sourced from dozens of places or countries (like the iPhone) means tracking them across production chains is a daunting task. Material accounting often shifts focus to national flows for practical analysis.
For instance, U.S. data shows increasing material use across categories but also points to changing trends, like decreased use of biomaterials thanks to advanced recycling. Another approach, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), evaluates environmental impacts from raw extraction to product disposal. For example, concrete sidewalks often have less impact compared to granite due to energy-intensive stone cutting.
Recycling proves indispensable by allowing reserves to extend, reducing demand for extraction, and enabling materials to see multiple lifecycles. This provides a way to counter growing material consumption.

Examples

• iPhone parts come from 20 companies across 12 countries.
• National material flow data indicates boosting recycling rates reduces raw material dependence.
• Concrete versus granite for sidewalks based on environmental assessments.

5. Dematerialization Doesn't Necessarily Lower Consumption

While dematerialization suggests reducing material use or substituting high-impact materials, the reality is that it often leads to increased consumption instead. For instance, digitization reduces paper use but demands more metals and energy for computers.
Boeing reduced the eight tons of paper it used for designing planes by switching to computer-aided design systems. However, creating CAD systems added complex energy infrastructures requiring newer materials.
Similarly, lighter tools like cell phones became affordable, increasing demand for materials like silicon and plastics. The paradox lies in more efficient designs leading to more widespread use rather than overall reductions.

Examples

• Boeing adopting CAD eliminated the need for massive paper blueprints.
• Cell phones grew lighter and cheaper but drove heavier reliance on metals and plastics.
• Affordable design of modern cars increased vehicle sales and raw material demand.

6. We Won't Run Out of Key Materials

Despite growing material consumption, basic resources like sand, silicon, and metals won’t exhaust. Consumables like these are abundant, while high-cost extraction ensures resources like minerals won't become too scarce.
Continuous recycling and better resource designs further alleviate strain. Overpackaged goods can adopt reduced plastic packaging, while manufacturing processes can streamline to minimize scrap waste.
Beyond resource use, innovative materials hold promise. For instance, graphene offers groundbreaking strength combined with conductivity, while biodegradable plastics pave the way for eco-friendly production cycles.

Examples

• Sand and silicon, fundamental for construction and electronics, are plentiful resources.
• Innovations like graphene exhibit both strength and futuristic applications.
• Biodegradable plastics reduce plastic waste by transforming back into natural compounds.

7. Recycling is a Game Changer

Recycling isn’t just an afterthought. It dramatically stretches existing material supplies by giving old materials new life. This strategy addresses not only waste reduction but also supply limitations.
Certain metals and rare-earth materials benefit greatly from recycling, increasing their economic lifespan. Electronics recycling, for instance, helps recover valuable components from discarded products.
Moreover, recycling effectively saves energy. Compared to extracting raw materials, processing recycled resources needs less energy and cuts down emissions. With proper systems, recycling can outpace traditional consumption patterns.

Examples

• Recycling aluminum reduces energy usage in manufacturing by up to 95%.
• E-waste management systems recover metals like gold and lithium.
• Closed-loop systems ensure materials like plastics remain reusable rather than wasteful.

8. Better Design Can Slash Waste

Designing products with waste reduction and resource efficiency in mind is a logical way forward. For instance, creating packaging that uses fewer materials can minimize consumer waste streams.
Manufacturing processes too can adopt smarter, less resource-intensive systems. Moving away from overproduction or improving material precision when machining parts achieves less waste.
E-waste offers an arena for innovation, as recycling-friendly electronics can limit their growing piles. Design, thus, is a frontrunner for tackling excess material consumption across sectors.

Examples

• Lightweight product packaging uses significantly less material for the same purpose.
• Precision metal machining avoids unnecessary scraps in manufacturing.
• Modular tech hardware enables efficient disassembly during recycling.

9. New Materials Signal Exciting Possibilities

Emerging materials reflect diverse opportunities in engineering and sustainability. Graphene, for instance, is not only ultra-thin but also extremely robust, leading to enhanced transistors, coatings, and conductive layers.
Meanwhile, biodegradable plastics promise fully sustainable alternatives, breaking down back into organic matter. In medical fields, bioengineered tissues and smart textiles open possibilities previously unimaginable.
Future material innovation propels industries like aerospace, infrastructure, and even the consumer product market into greener, more efficiency-driven directions.

Examples

• Graphene shows promise in electronics and high-strength composites.
• Bioplastics integrate into supply chains without harming ecosystems.
• Advanced smart textiles incorporate temperature regulation for medical or consumer use.

Takeaways

1. Minimize material consumption by supporting designs or products that prioritize resource efficiency and recycling-friendly options.
2. Advocate for recycling programs, knowing their positive role in extending resource life and energy savings.
3. Stay informed about innovative materials like graphene and support industries integrating sustainable material solutions.