Corrosion Protection and Sustainability: Why Are the Two Concepts Inherently Intertwined

Corrosion has a significant impact on the economic and environmental sustainability of metal-based infrastructure and products. This position paper explores the intrinsic relationship between corrosion protection and sustainability, examining the economic costs, environmental impacts and technological strategies involved. While corrosion results in resource waste, energy loss, and increased CO2 emissions, effective corrosion management can extend the service life of metallic components, thus preserving resources and minimizing environmental burden. The approaches such as Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) can provide a framework for selecting the most cost-efficient and environmentally friendly corrosion protection method in view of the required lifetime. The paper emphasises the crucial role of material selection, design optimization, recyclability and environmentally friendly coatings. Regulatory pressures and new trends such as machine learning are also discussed. Achieving sustainability goals requires greater awareness, education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continued innovation in corrosion protection strategies.