Sustainable functional ceramics

The rapid rise of functional ceramics across various sectors, including electronics, energy storage and automotive, is projected to drive annual growth rates of up to 35% until 2030. With this significant growth, the substantial energy required for mining and ceramic manufacturing leads to notable greenhouse gas emissions. In this Review, we discuss measures to enhance the sustainability of functional ceramic materials, including low-energy and low-CO₂ production methods. We evaluate their potential impact and technology readiness for functional ceramics with different nanoscale architectures and varying levels of structural and chemical complexity across diverse fields. We examine end-of-life recycling strategies and assess the role of critical raw materials in both established and rapidly growing markets, concluding with a discussion of supporting policy measures. Through this work, we propose a tangible action plan to lower CO₂-equivalent emissions in producing future functional ceramics, whether through synthesis techniques, manufacturing tools, densification processes, or chemical and reaction protocols. This provides a blueprint for designing and manufacturing the next generation of more sustainable functional ceramic materials.