Materials and sustainable development

Abstract

Sustainable development refers to the establishment of resources saving industrial system and pursuing clean production; the promotion of efficiency of energy utilization and the development of new energy and renewable energy resources; the improvement of ecological environment and the continuous increase in agriculture and forest production; the reduction of environmental pollution and the decrease of the greenhouse effect, and the promotion of social sustainable development including birth control and improvement of the quality of population. They are all related to materials either directly or indirectly. In the present article, four topics are emphasized:

• 1. Effective utilization of natural resources and recycling of wastes should be emphasized.

• 2. Clean production of materials to minimize environmental pollution is urgent.

• 3. Development of materials systems based on elements which are abundant on the earth should be considered.

• 4. Development of advanced materials and novel process is a major way of saving resources and reducing environmental pollution.