Materials Matter

The products we purchase and use are assembled from a wide range of naturallyoccurring and manufactured materials. But too often we create hazards for the ecosystem and humanhealth as we mine process distribute use and dispose of these materials. Until recently mostresearch has focused on the waste end of material cycles. This book argues that the safest and leastcostly point at which to avoid environmental damage is when materials are first designed andselected for use in industrial production.Materials Matter presents convincing evidence that we canuse fewer materials and eliminate the use of many toxic chemicals by focusing directly on material(chemical) use when products are designed. It also shows how manufacturers can save money byincreasing the effectiveness of material use and reducing the use of toxic chemicals. It advocatesnew directions for the material sciences and government policies on materials. And it argues thatmanufacturers suppliers and customers need to set more socially responsible policies for productsand services to achieve higher environmental and health goals.