Ashley White*, Brett Helms, Francesca Toma
The circular materials economy envisions a system in which the growing demand for materials is met sustainably – reducing raw materials, energy, and environmental impact throughout a product’s life cycle, then recovering and regenerating materials at the end of each service life – all while maintaining economic growth. Achieving this tall order will require advances in materials research that encompass such aspects as data-driven materials design, materials substitution, enhanced material lifetime, lean manufacturing, and new methods of material recovery. This symposium will bring together invited and contributed speakers to capture how the Molecular Foundry and we, as scientists, can advance the circular economy. A panel discussion and audience participation are planned.