Current and Future Issues in Eco-Material Research: 1995年06月

Current and Future Issues in Eco-Material Research: 1995年06月

Current and Future Issues in Eco-Material Research

Eco-materials refer to a new approach in material development. Traditional material development has focused on economic efficiency and the convenience of mass production, aiming to achieve the required functions by combining materials. However, eco-materials fundamentally reexamine this from an environmental protection perspective. Instead of considering environmental impacts after the product is made, eco-materials aim to coexist with the environment from the development stage of materials, including the manufacturing process, and to increase the recycling rate of products.

Efforts in America and Europe

Research on the environmental impact of materials began in America in the 1970s. At that time, the main issues were the increase in disposable containers like PET bottles and styrofoam and their relationship to energy consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) summarized the "Resource and Environmental Profile Analysis" in 1974. In the 1980s, interest in environmental issues grew in Europe, leading to concepts like eco-products and green products, which aim to develop products with low environmental impact. This trend also reached Japan, where products emphasizing environmental considerations, like eco-mark products, appeared. However, the lack of clear standards and definitions for evaluating environmental impacts prevented a thorough reexamination of production technologies and material development.

Definition of Eco-Materials and Research Projects

The term eco-materials was coined in 1990 by the Rare Metal Research Committee of the Frontier Science and Technology Research Association. In 1995, the Eco-Material Research Committee of the same association summarized a report proposing specific developments of materials that do not generate waste and consider resource depletion, defining eco-materials as "sustainable as long as humanity continues to exist."

From the fiscal year 1993, the Science and Technology Agency's coordination funds for promoting science and technology have been used for joint research by industry, academia, and government. The "Eco-Material Development Project" involves research institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Environment Agency, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in collaboration with RIKEN, the University of Tokyo, Tsukuba University, and six companies, including Nippon Steel Corporation and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.

Research Themes and Specific Achievements

The main research themes of this project are as follows:

1. Design of materials considering material circulation
2. Development of technologies to enhance the functions of natural materials and utilize untapped functions
3. Establishment of evaluation indicators for developed materials

For example, the National Institute for Materials Science is researching new materials to replace styrofoam by using clay (smectite) found in weathered volcanic ash. The National Institute for Environmental Studies is reducing additive elements in steel, of which 46 million tons become scrap annually. The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has developed a technology to compress and mold wood with high-temperature and high-pressure steam to achieve plastic-like precision.

Future Prospects and Challenges

The background of eco-material research includes the recognition that resources are not inexhaustible. For example, producing titanium requires a large amount of energy, and the world's reserves could be exhausted in just 27 years. Therefore, establishing an efficient recycling system is essential. Research on material development must go hand in hand with the establishment of recycling systems. Additionally, preventing the generation of highly environmentally burdensome substances like carbon dioxide, which is a major cause of global warming, must also be considered within the scope of eco-material research.