The opportunity
Reduce reliance on volatile global supply chains, minimize the environmental impact of mining virgin materials, and create a secure domestic supply of inputs essential for green technologies and electronics.
From “The BIG Future: New Materials Science” (February 2023)
There are also big geopolitical issues that come with materials science as well - particularly with critical minerals. Critical minerals are elements or compounds that have been deemed by the United States government to pose a significant risk in terms of supply and impact on our country. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been tasked with maintaining the critical mineral list which was last published in 2022. n1 The critical mineral list is created through an analysis of three criteria: (1) the likelihood of a supply disruption, (2) the impact to the nation’s economy and defense if a supply disruption occurs, and (3) if there is a significant supply risk existing. Of the 87 elements that are used for manufacturing, 50 are on the list! This fact alone reveals the dire situation that our country faces in terms of raw material supply as we are dependent on foreign countries, some of which are adversaries.
Materials science has become a thing of national defense and support - and this too accelerates the science of the science! Consider some of the stark realities for the US: The importance of critical minerals can be seen in the modern devices that are important to all Americans. Gallium in the form of gallium arsenide phosphide and gallium nitride are essential for integrated circuits (semiconductor chips), laser diodes, light emitting diodes (LED)s, and radio frequency (RF) cellular used in smartphones. Tellurium is used in cadmium telluride, which is a high-efficiency solar collector utilized on 50% of the grid scale solar arrays in the United States and is combined with bismuth to produce thermal imaging night vision optics for civilian and military use. Indium is principally used as indium tin oxide in most flat panel displays and is growing in use in 5th generation (5G) fiber optic communications. Each of these critical minerals is captured during the processing of base metals. They are not mined and produced for their value alone. Therefore, the country that dominates base metal production controls the market for these minor tonnage
Lead mining and metal production declined in the United States by 28% and 21% from 1995 to 2022. Domestic lead metal production has shifted completely to recycling with the last primary smelter in Herculaneum, Missouri, closing in 2013. Lead mining, smelting and battery production provides a $2.3 billion impact on the Missouri economy n6 and is still critical for all automobiles including EVs Again, while the U.S. lead production declined, Chinese production expanded dramatically. China now produces 44% of the world’s lead.
From “Daily Inspiration: 24 Strategies for 2024 #5 - “Elevate your enthusiasm!”” (December 2023)
Renewable Energy: Massive acceleration of the technologies behind solar, wind, and other sustainable sources.
Global Supply Chains: Efficient and wide-reaching systems that allow any product from anywhere on the plant to get anywhere else in less than 72 hours
Innovations in Home Automation: Making homes smarter and more efficient with new ideas, technologies and connectivity
From “Decoding Tomorrow: 30 Megatrends - #8 The Circular Economy: “Opportunities come not just from turning trash into treasure, but from engineering systems and products to make that a regular reality.”” (July 2025)
What’s it all about? Essentially, the way we produce and consume goods is undergoing a fundamental shift. For decades, our economy has largely operated on a linear ” take-make-dispose ” model, leading to significant waste and depletion of natural resources. Everything we build is thrown away; there is nothing in the design of the product itself that presumes reuse and recycling. However, that is changing, and a new paradigm is emerging: the circular economy . This regenerative system is designed to eliminate waste, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems, presenting a strategic imperative for the coming decade and unlocking trillion-dollar opportunities.
Cost Savings : Reduced reliance on virgin materials and minimized waste management expenses.
And a third is the integration of advanced recycling technologies into every aspect of the supply chain - so that supply chains don’t just get the product to the consumer, they also take over when the consumer sends it back!
Read the full pieces on jimcarroll.com:
The BIG Future: New Materials Science
Daily Inspiration: 24 Strategies for 2024 #5 - “Elevate your enthusiasm!”
Decoding Tomorrow: 30 Megatrends - #8 The Circular Economy: “Opportunities come not just from turning trash into treasure, but from engineering systems and products to make that a regular reality.”