Who is mining the Anthropocene

This chapter considers innovative resource reduction practice from the worlds of design and architecture. Case studies examine the potential for the re-use of material often considered as problematic waste. The author speculates on the possible benefits achieved by companies utilising alternative material sources or ‘flows’ often overlooked by affluent societies. This line of enquiry is questioned by considering case studies supplied by a variety of sources, including SME’s and larger corporations. The ambition of this paper is to ascertain what types of projects are proving attractive propositions to manufacturers, suppliers and customers or end users. The author focuses on projects utilising waste material flows for the purposes of recycling or reuse, while considering the possible benefits and challenges of this practice he defines as ‘mining the Anthropocene’.