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Metal stocks and sustainability.
R B Gordon1, M Bertram, T E Graedel
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Summary
Achieving sustainable metal use requires shifting from virgin ore to recycling. Current U.S. copper reserves are balanced between ore, in-use products, and waste, but increasing in-use demand necessitates near-complete recycling for global services.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Resource Management
Background:
- Metal resources are finite, necessitating careful management.
- The transition from virgin ore extraction to recycling is crucial for sustainability.
- Understanding metal distribution across lithosphere, in-use products, and waste is key to assessing resource circularity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the distribution of metals (copper, zinc, platinum) across different repositories: lithosphere (ore), in-use products, and waste.
- To evaluate the progress toward a circular economy model based on recycled metals.
- To project future metal requirements for providing developed-country service levels globally.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of metal proportions in the lithosphere, in-use stock, and waste deposits.
- Comparative assessment of metal distribution in the U.S. versus global needs.
- Modeling future metal demand based on service provision.
Main Results:
- In the U.S., copper is currently distributed roughly equally between ore, in-use products, and waste.
- The quantity of metal in use is steadily increasing.
- Global provision of current developed-country service levels for copper, zinc, and platinum would necessitate utilizing nearly all available lithosphere ore and achieving near-complete recycling.
Conclusions:
- Current metal management practices are insufficient for long-term sustainability.
- A significant shift towards a circular economy with high recycling rates is imperative.
- Meeting future global demand for metals at developed-country service levels requires maximizing in-use stock and achieving near-total metal recycling.