Towards a Circular Economy via Intelligent Metamaterials

The study proposes using intelligent metasurfaces inside products and spaces to support circular economy goals. The key idea is that these metasurfaces can change their physical properties by receiving software commands, rather than being fixed at design time. The work starts with electromagnetic metamaterials and outlines a complete methodology for deploying them. It argues that this approach can help mitigate resource waste from inefficient or partially optimized designs and address security concerns. The abstract further states that the same principles can be extended to controlling mechanical properties, including micro-management of vibrations and heat, with the goal of enabling greater circular economy potential.