United States
£ GBP
Now in its second edition, Sustainable Materials shows how we can greatly reduce the amount of material demanded and used in manufacturing, while still meeting everyone's needs.
Materials, transformed from natural resources into the buildings, equipment, vehicles and goods that underpin our remarkable lifestyle, are made with amazing efficiency. But our growing demand is not sustainable. Production of just five materials – steel, aluminium, paper, plastics and cement – accounts for 55% of industrial emissions, and demand for materials will double by 2050. Can we continue to live well but use less materials?
So far people have considered the problem with only one eye open, hoping for a magic solution (such as carbon capture and storage). But with both eyes open we have a whole new set of options. Rather than making more materials, we can use them more wisely – with less material, keeping them for longer, re-using their parts and more. These options make a huge difference: we really could set up our children with a more sustainable life, without compromising our own.
Sustainable Materials faces up to the impacts of making materials in the 21st century. Drawing on their experiences working with innovative materials as well as the facts and findings of their research, Julian Allwood and Jonathan Cullen provide an evidence-based vision of change that will allow us to make our future more sustainable. Packed with hundreds of colour photos and helpful graphs and diagrams, Sustainable Materials provides a thorough analysis of the problems that we face through wasteful attitudes and the growing demand for materials, as well as an evaluation of practical and achievable solutions for the future.
The first edition of this optimistic and richly-informed book was listed as one of Bill Gate's top reads in 2015, and was also chosen as an Outstanding Academic Title by ACRL Choice magazine. This up-to-date, revised edition is perfect for anyone with an interest in sustainability.
The world of materials
With one eye open
With both eyes open
Other materials
Creating sustainable material future
References
Index
Acknowledgements
About the authors
Julian Allwood is a Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, where he leads the Low Carbon Materials Processing research group. Jonathan Cullen is University Lecturer in the University of Cambridge Engineering Department. They both have extensive practical experience working in the engineering industry, as well as taking part in numerous research projects.
"Instead of the usual ya-boo about sustainability, this is a pragmatic guide to getting more value from less stuff. Researched with long-term co-operation from industry, it emphasizes facts and evidence but is aimed at a popular readership."
– BBC News Magazine
"Well researched with reasoned and compelling arguments [...] This is essential reading for both student and practitioner, particularly those in senior management positions. 10/10."
– Materials World, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
"A valuable, impartial expert source in an important debate."
– Boing Boing
"The book offers perspectives from fundamental materials science, process engineering, product design and architecture, and economics not seen in most materials texts."
– Science
"An excellent book [...] the message is clear and convincing: We can't go on using materials the way we have been for the past 150 years, but fortunately, we don't have to. We can meet the world's growing need for the stuff of modern life, avoid the worst effects of climate change, and preserve the environment for future generations."
– Bill Gates, Gates Notes
"This is something you don't see every day: a substantial, carefully-researched book on how to reform our manufacturing industries for policy-makers trying to cut emissions, and anyone in manufacturing, it should be required reading."
– New Scientist Culture Lab
"Accessible, fact-filled and entertaining read."
– Friends of the Earth Blog
