Mining of primary raw materials as the critical foundation of ‘sustainable’ metals: a wicked problem for technology innovation clusters

A transition to a more sustainable human-nature system is inextricably linked to raw materials production, if economic growth is to be maintained or increased by the emergence of new, energy- and metal-hungry technology innovation clusters. The dependence on mined raw materials is a wicked problem for societies vulnerable to negative ecological impacts and for global power bases wanting to secure access to an increasing array of feedstocks. We interrogate the issue of what constitutes a sustainable metal from a triple perspective: (i) the characteristics of ore deposits and the primary extractive operations that supply critical raw materials; (ii) the impediments for complex and interacting supply chains to maintain critical (and other) metals in use; and (iii) the lack of transparency in supply chains that makes it challenging for customers to avoid resources that have been produced by unsustainable and poor practices. We examine existing and emerging structures for resource management to explain the limits to the circular economy and what constitutes a meaningful systemic structure for primary production by responsible mining. We call for the inclusion of a standardized statement of the 'natural capital' embodied in R&D for technological materials as a means to create transparency about what constitutes a sustainable metal.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Sustainable metals: science and systems'.