Simultaneously tracing the fate of seven metals at a global level with MaTrace?multi

Keeping materials in use for a long time is key to reducing primary material demand and environmental impacts of resource use. Recycling yields metals should only be limited by thermodynamically unavoidable losses the remelting processes well-defined scraps. In practice, however, additional dissipative occur due incomplete collection end-of-life products, insufficient waste sorting, contaminated or diluted scrap, downcycling secondary materials. Here we simultaneously trace fate Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb MaTrace-multi, planetary dynamic flow system. Metals pass mining, fabrication, use-phase, collection, scrap allocation, remelting, allocation. We calculate circularity longevity cohort metal requirements final 1 year. Nickel found have best at 116 (78 205) years, whereas zinc has 47 (37 61) years. While nickel, on average, used 5.13 (3.45 8.78) applications before dissipation, 1.94 (1.52 2.47) applications. Our study results can model circular economy policies technological developments global cycles beyond scope studies modeling one time. This article met Gold–Gold JIE data openness badge described http://jie.click/badges