Abstract

David Attenborough: “Anyone who believes in infinite growth on a physically finite planet is either a fool or an economist” [1]. The current period of consumption, the ever-increasing pressure on our planet in the form of the ever-increasing consumption of raw materials, have already required a radical solution and new approaches. At the same time is also alarming our ever-increasing environmental debt. Although, paradoxically, in an effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year has shown that we can reduce the consumption and use of natural resources in the short term. Nevertheless, the forecast for global demand for raw materials represents an increase from 84 billion tons in 2015 to 185 billion in 2050, with metal mining expected to increase by 96% (Figure 1).