Technological advances in critical metal recovery and their implications for sustainable development and inequality

Jihye Kim and Nicole M. Smith

Chapter 13 in Elgar Companion on Inequality and Natural Resources, 2026, pp 279-300 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Technological advancements in natural resources recovery are essential for securing minerals and materials critical to energy transitions toward a carbon-neutral economy. While considerable efforts have improved the technical and economic feasibility of recovery processes, little attention has been paid to sustainable development and inequality. For just and equitable energy transitions to occur, it is crucial to design, develop, and implement technologies that consider their unintended consequences on marginalized communities. This chapter examines the relationship between technological advancements in critical metals recovery and (in)equality. We review key processes and technologies and present case studies featuring innovative approaches and their implications for improving efficiency and contributing to sustainable development. Additionally, we analyze resource extraction technologies from an inequality perspective and evaluate their socio-environmental impacts. We finally conclude with an overview of emerging trends in resource recovery, recommendations for inclusive and equitable development, and strategies for addressing inequality through policy, research, and collaboration.

Keywords: Sustainable Development; Resources Recovery; Inequality; Critical Metals; Extractive Metallurgy; Natural Resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035327362
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