Metals and Sustainability

Metals: Origins and Core Principles

Metals originate from ore, a type of rock that contains a significant amount of minerals. Ores must undergo the extraction and refining process to get the final metal.
Among metals, aluminium, iron, and copper are among the most widely used in the manufacturing industry.
Primary extraction means obtaining metals directly from ores, while secondary extraction refers to the process of reclaiming metals from scrap or waste.
Alloying is a common process where two or more metals are combined, often to enhance strength, resistance to corrosion, hardness, or other properties.

Metals: Waste and Recycling

Metals are highly recyclable. Scrap metal undergoes a melting process which allows it to be reformed without degrading its properties.
Aluminium and steel are among the most recycled metals due to abundance, high value and recycling efficiency.
Recycling metals saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, compared to primary extraction processes.
The act of throwing away metals in the landfill can have severe environmental impacts as it leads to unnecessary mining and waste of resources.

Metals: Lifespan and Durability

Metals tend to have long lifespans and are durable, often making them more sustainable alternatives compared to plastics or wood.
Certain metals such as stainless steel or aluminium, when treated properly, are resistant to corrosion and can endure harsh environmental conditions.
Careful selection of metals can result in products that need less replacement and repair, reducing overall material consumption in the long run.

Metals: Environmental Impacts

The mining of metals can cause significant harm to the environment, including deforestation, water pollution and carbon emissions.
Energy-intensive processes such as smelting and refining contribute to high carbon emissions.
Acid mine drainage is a serious environmental hazard associated with metal mining, whereby acidic waters that are highly toxic are leaked into the surrounding environment.
Metals are finite resources. Over-reliance and inefficient use of these materials can lead to resource scarcity.

Metals: Sustainable Practices

Design for disassembly: Products are designed in a way that allows them to be easily broken down at the end of their life for recycling.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA): The complete assessment of the environmental impacts of a product, from raw material extraction, through production and use, to disposal or recycling.
Using biodegradable coatings or treatments can make metal products more sustainable.
Employing energy-efficient manufacturing processes can reduce the carbon footprint associated with metal production.

Remember to scrutinise the entire lifecycle of a material to accurately measure its sustainability. This includes extraction, production, emission, waste, and recyclability among other factors.