Efforts to achieve deep GHG emission reductions will have
significant consequences for materials use. About 36% of all CO2
emissions can be attributed to industry, mainly to materials production
processes. Materials sciences can help to increase the
efficiency of materials use and to develop new materials that allow
for higher energy efficiency during product use. This includes
chemical and mechanical processing technologies and biotechnologies.
In addition, certain process improvements are dependent
on a better understanding of materials transformation
processes. About 18–26% improvement can be achieved based on
existing technologies, but this is not sufficient to compensate for
the projected growth in demand. Further improvements can be
achieved only through better materials and new emerging production
processes. Efforts to develop better cement materials, biomass
feedstocks instead of coal and other fossil feedstocks, and
substitutes for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer merit special attention.
However, the development and widespread use of new materials
and processes is a slow effort that is limited by capital stock turnover,
norms and standards for new materials, and acceptance by
the market. Therefore, such changes must start in the coming
decade in order to have a substantial impact by 2050