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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing
Published on: June 28, 2024
Dematerialization: Variety, caution, and persistence.
Jesse H Ausubel1, Paul E Waggoner
1Program for the Human Environment, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, NY 10021, USA.
Economic development can improve environmental quality through dematerialization, the reduction of resource use per unit of economic output. This trend is driven by lower spending on basic goods and increased production efficiency, leading to reduced environmental impact globally.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Economics
- Sustainable Development
- Resource Management
Background:
- Economic development often leads to increased resource consumption and environmental degradation.
- However, dematerialization, a decline in resource use per unit of economic output, offers a potential pathway to improved environmental quality.
- Understanding the drivers of dematerialization is crucial for sustainable development strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenomenon of dematerialization and its relationship with economic development.
- To identify the key factors contributing to declining resource intensity and environmental impact.
- To analyze trends in dematerialization across various countries and resource types.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of global and country-specific data on resource consumption (e.g., energy, goods) and economic output (GDP) from 1980 to 2006.
- Calculation of dematerialization indicators based on declining consumption per GDP.
- Assessment of income elasticity of demand for staples to understand consumption patterns.
- Examination of the impact of producer learning and efficiency improvements on resource intensity.
Main Results:
- Dematerialization, characterized by declining consumption per GDP, was observed globally and in diverse countries (e.g., US, France, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia).
- Key drivers identified include low income elasticity for staple goods and advancements in production efficiency due to learning.
- Significant reductions in the intensity of environmental impact were noted for energy use, carbon emissions, food consumption, and fertilizer use.
- Despite potential measurement challenges, substantial dematerialization and impact intensity decline persisted between 1980 and 2006.
Conclusions:
- Economic development, coupled with specific consumption and production patterns, can lead to environmental improvements through dematerialization.
- Policies promoting efficiency and addressing consumption of basic goods can enhance dematerialization.
- The findings suggest that decoupling economic growth from environmental impact is achievable, offering a hopeful outlook for environmental quality.

