xv
longer necessary to produce iron from iron ore. It turns out that this is not unique to
Japan; many developed countries no longer require iron ore. Nearly all regions of
the world will likely approach this state around 2050.
Let’s generally refer to this state of saturation seen in automobiles and iron as the
“saturation of man-made objects.” From the viewpoint of the current resourcemining- based economy, the “saturation of man-made objects” will likely cause
negative effects such as drops in the price of raw resources and decrease in economic growth. On the other hand, however, this indicates that mankind is headed
toward a recycling-oriented economic society. The twenty-first century is an era
marking the shift to a recycling-oriented society due to the saturation of man-made
objects.
World in 2050
At this present time, the human population, man-made objects, and minerals are
already becoming saturated in developed countries. The rest of the world is also
catching up rapidly. Around the time that those who are high school students in
2016 turn 50 years old, the world will have reached an era of saturation. This is not
merely the reality of a distant future.
Fig. 8 Total Accumulated Amount of Iron in Japan and Annual Amount Accumulated
(Data) The Japan ferrous raw materials association
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”
longer necessary to produce iron from iron ore. It turns out that this is not unique to
Japan; many developed countries no longer require iron ore. Nearly all regions of
the world will likely approach this state around 2050.
Let’s generally refer to this state of saturation seen in automobiles and iron as the
“saturation of man-made objects.” From the viewpoint of the current resourcemining- based economy, the “saturation of man-made objects” will likely cause
negative effects such as drops in the price of raw resources and decrease in economic growth. On the other hand, however, this indicates that mankind is headed
toward a recycling-oriented economic society. The twenty-first century is an era
marking the shift to a recycling-oriented society due to the saturation of man-made
objects.
World in 2050
At this present time, the human population, man-made objects, and minerals are
already becoming saturated in developed countries. The rest of the world is also
catching up rapidly. Around the time that those who are high school students in
2016 turn 50 years old, the world will have reached an era of saturation. This is not
merely the reality of a distant future.
Fig. 8 Total Accumulated Amount of Iron in Japan and Annual Amount Accumulated
(Data) The Japan ferrous raw materials association
Preface: From “Vision 2050” to “New Vision 2050”