Materials and Sustainable Development, Second Edition, written by
noted materials selection authority Mike Ashby, provides a structure and
framework for analyzing sustainable development and the role of
materials in it. The book's aim is to introduce ways of exploring
sustainable development to readers in a way that avoids simplistic
interpretations and approaches complexity in a systematic way. There is
no completely 'right' answer to questions of sustainable development,
instead, there is a thoughtful, well-researched response that recognizes
concerns of stakeholders, conflicting priorities, and the economic,
legal and social aspects of the technology and its environmental legacy.
The intent of the book is not to offer solutions to sustainability
challenges but rather to improve the quality of discussion and enable
informed, balanced debate. This updated edition has been updated to
reflect new insights, regulatory trends and other developments that have
occurred since publication of the previous edition.