Materials science and engineering for circularity

The increasing global demand for natural resources, driven by urbanization,
technological advancements, population growth, rising
wealth, and shorter product lifespans, results in significant environmental
impacts, such as high greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity
loss, and water stress. Furthermore, material supply chains are often
linked to significant social and economic challenges, such as the
displacement of indigenous communities, hazardous working conditions,
child labor, and low wages. From 1970 to 2019, global material
extraction grew from 30 to 90 billion tonnes, and without intervention,
this figure is projected to double by 2060. Achieving sustainable
development requires decoupling resource use from human well-being.
Innovations in materials science and engineering play a critical role
in advancing circularity through reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing,
offering viable pathways for sustainable resource management.
Research on materials such as steel, polymers, and glass, as well as
complex product systems, is central to enabling circular economies.
This special issue focuses on six key areas in this context, with each
guest editor responsible for a specific topic: (1) Remanufacturing for
Circularity, (2) Circular Approaches in Metallurgy, (3) Circularity Approaches
in Polymers through Recycling Technologies, (4) Valorization
of Biomass and CO₂ for a Circular Economy in Macromolecules, (5) The
Role of Digitalization in Materials Circular Economy, and (6) The Correlation
Between Sustainability Assessment and Circularity. The 26
featured articles introduce new insights, models, and frameworks aimed
at advancing sustainability and circularity across existing and emerging
technologies. Collectively, these contributions underscore the pivotal
role of materials science and engineering in shaping a sustainable, circular
future.