Technological innovation and anthropogenic material flows

Abstract

Throughout its history, humankind has made use of the earth’s natural resources. Humans have done this not only in the very basic sense as food for mere survival, but as a means of handicraft, industry, and cultural techniques that have shaped human society. The exploitation and use of resources depend on the available technology and on society’s stage of development. Technological progress and societal progress have always been closely interconnected, one enabling the other. Today the standard of living and social welfare in the most developed countries have reached a level that is unique in history although large parts of the world’s population still do not participate in the abundance of goods and of welfare.