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A Circular Economy of Metals: Towards a Sustainable Societal Metabolism
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 40 hours
  • Course by Universiteit Leiden
  • Offered by

About

Metals are present everywhere around us and are one of the major materials upon which our economies are built. Economic development is deeply coupled with the use of metals. During the 20th century, the variety of metal applications in society grew rapidly. In addition to mass applications such as steel in buildings and aluminium in planes, more and more different metals are in use for innovative technologies such as the use of the speciality metal indium in LCD screens. A lot of metals will be needed in the future. It will not be easy to provide them. In particular in emerging economies, but also in industrialised countries, the demand for metals is increasing rapidly. Mining and production activities expand, and with that also the environmental consequences of metal production. In this course, we will explore those consequences and we will also explore options to move towards a more sustainable system of metals production and use. We will focus especially on the options to reach a circular economy for metals: keeping metals in use for a very long time, to avoid having to mine new ones. This course is based on the reports of the Global Metals Flows Group of the International Resource Panel that is part of UN Environment. An important aspect that will come back each week, are the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs. Those are ambitious goals to measure our progress towards a more sustainable world. We will use the SDGs as a touching stone for the assessment of the metals challenge, as well as the solutions we present in this course to solve that challenge.

Modules

Welcome to the Course

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Plugin
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • E-tivity: Introduce Yourself

2 Videos

  • Introduction to the Course
  • How to succeed in your online class?

1 Readings

  • Meet the Instructor & the Team

Introduction to UNEP and SDGs

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Introduction to SDGs: Dr. Janez Potočnik
  • Introduction to UNEP International Resource Panel: Dr. Patrice Christmann

2 Readings

  • The World Bank: The 2017 Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals
  • The Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World

Introduction

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Metal Applications

2 Videos

  • Introduction to Metals in Society
  • The Periodic Table of Elements

The World of Metals

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Metals in the 21th Century

4 Videos

  • Insights from the Life-Cycle of Metals by Prof. dr. Thomas E. Graedel
  • Life-Cycles of Selected Metals (Part 1)
  • Life-Cycles of Selected Metals (Part 2)
  • Metals in the 20th Century

1 Readings

  • Life-Cycle Impact of Rare Earth Elements

Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Sustainable Development Goals

1 Videos

  • Summary of Metals in Society

Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Test your knowledge

Additional Materials (Optional)

    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Readings

  • Suggested Readings and Materials

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Metals Challenge

Demand and Supply of Metals

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Future Demand and Supply
  • Scarcity and Depletion

Environmental Impact and Criticality of metals

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
Show info about module content

2 Discussions

  • Environmental Impacts of Metals
  • Criticality of Metals

2 Videos

  • Impacts of Metal Use
  • Criticality of Metals

1 Readings

  • Environmental Risks and Challenges of Anthropogenic Metals Flows and Cycles: International Resource Panel's Report

Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Sustainable Development Goals

1 Videos

  • Summary of Metals Challenge

Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Test your knowledge

Additional Materials (Optional)

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

6 Videos

  • Energy for Metals
  • Metals for Energy
  • Criticality of Metals by Thomas E. Graedel (Part 1)
  • Criticality of Metals by Thomas E. Graedel (Part 2)
  • Criticality of Metals by Thomas E. Graedel (Part 3)
  • Future Demand and Supply (Additional Material)

3 Readings

  • Criticality of Metals
  • Environmental Impacts of Rare Earth Mining and Separation Based on Eudialyte: A New European Way
  • Suggested Readings and Materials

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Dynamics of Metal Systems

Stocks and Flows Dynamics

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Stocks and Flows Dynamics

3 Videos

  • Stocks of Metal in Society by Thomas E. Graedel
  • Distinguishing between Stocks and Flows by Thomas E. Graedel
  • Stock Dynamics and Modelling

1 Readings

  • Metal Stocks in Society: The International Resource Panel's Report

Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Sustainable Development Goals

1 Videos

  • Summary of Dynamics of Metal Systems

Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Test your knowledge

Additional Materials (Optional)

    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Readings

  • Urban Mines of Copper: Size and Potential for Recycling in the EU
  • Suggested Readings and Materials

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Solution to the Metals Challenge

Options to Solve the Metals Challenge

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Product Design

6 Videos

  • Possible Solutions
  • Recycling Rates for Metals by Thomas E. Graedel
  • Materials Design for Recycling by Erik Offerman (Part 1)
  • Materials Design for Recycling by Erik Offerman (Part 2)
  • Product Design by Conny Bakker
  • Remanufacturing

1 Readings

  • Recycling Rates of Metals: The International Resource Panel's Report

Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Discussion
Show info about module content

2 Discussions

  • Deep-sea Mining
  • Sustainable Development Goals

1 Videos

  • Summary of Solutions to the Metals Challenge

Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Test your knowledge

Additional Materials (Optional)

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Product-centric Recycling to Increase Recycling Rates by Markus Reuter (Part 1)
  • Product-centric Recycling to Increase Recycling Rates by Markus Reuter (Part 2)
  • Elements, materials, products, elements. Animation by Ruben Huele

2 Readings

  • Metal Recycling: The International Resource Panel's Report
  • Suggested Readings and Materials

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Circular Economy as an Overarching Solution

The Circular Economy Concept

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
Show info about module content

4 Videos

  • The Circular Economy
  • Climbing the Materials Ladder
  • Circular Economy for Aluminium (Part 1)
  • Circular Economy for Aluminium (Part 2)

1 Readings

  • Product Design in a Circular Economy Development of a Typology of Key Concepts and Terms

Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Sustainable Development Goals

1 Videos

  • Summary of Circular Economy as an Overarching Solution

Peer Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

  • Circular Economy

Quiz

    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Test your knowledge

Additional Materials (Optional)

    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Readings

  • Suggested Readings and Materials
  • From Linear to Circular Economy: PSS conducting the transition
  • Opportunities for a circular economy

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Introduction to Look into the Future

Resource Scenarios

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Scenarios for Resource Use
  • Scenarios of Metal Demand and Supply and Related Environmental Impacts
  • The Metals Challenge and the Sustainable Development Goals

1 Readings

  • People and the Earth

Summary

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Sustainable Development Goals

1 Videos

  • Summary of Look into the Future

Peer Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

  • Sustainable Development Goals

Quiz and Final Exam

    • 2 Assignment
Show info about module content

2 Assignment

  • Test your knowledge
  • Final Exam

Additional Materials (Optional)

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Scenarios for Resource Use (Additional Material)

1 Readings

  • Suggested Readings and Materials

Auto Summary

Discover the essential role of metals in our economy and learn how we can shift towards a more sustainable future with the course, "A Circular Economy of Metals: Towards a Sustainable Societal Metabolism." This engaging and informative course dives into the science and engineering behind metals, exploring their ubiquitous presence and critical applications in modern society, from construction materials to innovative technologies. Guided by expert insights and reports from the Global Metals Flows Group of the International Resource Panel, part of UN Environment, you will uncover the environmental impacts of metal production and the growing demand for metals, particularly in emerging economies. The course places a significant focus on the concept of a circular economy—strategies to keep metals in use for extended periods, thereby reducing the need for new mining activities. Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework, this course will help you assess the challenges and explore sustainable solutions to metal production and usage. Over approximately 2,400 minutes of comprehensive content, you will be equipped with foundational knowledge and practical insights that align with global sustainability targets. Whether you are a beginner or looking to expand your understanding of sustainable practices in metal usage, this course offers flexible subscription options: Starter and Professional. Ideal for environmental enthusiasts, engineering students, or professionals in related fields, this course promises to enhance your expertise and contribute to a more sustainable world. Join us on Coursera and take a step towards making a lasting impact on our planet.

Ester van der Voet
Instructor

Ester van der Voet