Conclusions
Relying on the characteristics of metals in society and nature, we have in this discussion on metals and dematerialization indicated that:
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A dematerialization of the societal metals turnover will mainly lessen the upstream problems connected to production of primary metals: the large rucksacks and the large indirect flows such as energy associated with mining and primary production of metals.
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A dematerialization will not be effective in mitigating many of the problematic downstream emissions originating in connection with specific application of the metals in various consumer goods. Here transmaterialization or substitution is a more viable strategy.
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The scarcity and by-flow characteristics of many metals may pose severe restrictions on the possible large-scale global application of many emerging and in other aspects environmentally benign technologies, especially in the energy sector.
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A dematerialization leading to an increased reliance on secondary instead of primary metals will require an increased focus on metals flow quality management to avoid down-cycling in the metals turnover.
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Karlsson, S. (2006). Dematerialization of the Metals Turnover. In: von Gleich, A., Ayres, R.U., Gößling-Reisemann, S. (eds) Sustainable Metals Management. Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4539-5_8
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