Materials

Society is at the very beginning of redesigning and reimagining the materials used in products and structures, as well as the means by which they can be reduced, reused and recycled. At circa 12 gigatons of emissions per year, the things we manufacture place a heavy burden on our atmosphere. Steel is the largest emission source by category at 4 gigatons. Cement is followed closely behind at 3 gigatons. The production of steel and cement today is dominated by China and its breakneck speed of construction. For these two mega industries to decarbonize, the cost of new approaches and technologies must make sense for the developing world.

The manufacture of plastics, chemicals, paper, aluminium, glass and apparel all use fossil fuels for direct heat. Many of these goods end up incinerated, producing even more emissions. We make materials that have become just as essential to modern life as electricity is. We’re not going to give them up, if anything, we’ll be using more of them as the world’s population grows and gets richer. We therefore must find a way to square the circle and produce these materials without making the climate unlivable. The key components that need to be addressed immediately are steel, plastic and concrete.