ABSTRACT
The mastery of the functions that minerals and metals provide is inextricably linked to the development of human civilisations. Historically, the progress of civilisation is recorded in terms of the “Copper “age; “Bronze” age; “Iron” age, based on the ability of humanity to use mineral resources. Multiple and ever-accelerating innovations in biology, chemistry, energy production, engineering, physics, transport systems, and more recently digital technologies, have developed both an ever-growing range of products and services that require minerals and/or metals and the capacity of the minerals and metals industry to produce the exponentially growing tonnages needed to meet the demand. The development of bulk maritime transport during the 20th century connected supply from mines, whose location is conditioned by geology, with the demand driven by the rapid expansion of economic globalisation.
Innovation, demographic growth, competition for access to the goods and services based on minerals and metals, the development of a global middle-class, urbanisation, and globalisation that interconnect demand and supply, are the key drivers to the unprecedented growth in the production and use of minerals and metals observed since the early part of the 20th century. This was accelerated by the two World Wars, the still ongoing 3rd Industrial Revolution and the beginning of the 4th Industrial Revolution, which embraces information and communication technologies. The number of elements in the Periodic Tables in routine use grew throughout the 20th century, from ten widely used elements at the start of the century, to almost every element being used at its end.
However, while minerals and metals are the undisputable basis of many products and services that provide social well-being and are beneficial, indeed necessary, to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, significant issues have emerged that challenge the sustainability of this exponential growth trajectory. The two main challenges are the contribution of the minerals and metals industry to global greenhouse gases (GHG emissions) and the amount of waste generated. There is a need for global governance of the industry such that ethical, informed, customer choices constitute the driving force to overcome the industry’s sustainability performance issues.
