Materiaalienkuten

Materiaalienkuten is a multidisciplinary field that studies the life cycle, properties, and cultural meaning of materials used in everyday life. The term, used in Dutch-language scholarship, blends material (materiaal) with a suffix that signals practice or study, reflecting an interest in how materials are produced, used, and disposed of as part of human activity. The field aims to combine material science, design, anthropology, and environmental studies to understand both technical performance and social impact.

Core topics include technical performance (strength, durability, and reliability), material flows in supply chains, and environmental footprint through life cycle assessment and recyclability. It also examines social and historical dimensions, such as how different materials are valued, how design choices affect users, and how cultural meanings shape material selection across industries like construction, electronics, fashion, and furniture.

Researchers employ a range of methods, including laboratory analysis, field studies, material-flow analysis, and life cycle assessment, alongside ethnography, interviews, and participatory design. The approach emphasizes collaboration across engineering, design, and social sciences to produce knowledge that supports sustainable and culturally informed material choices.

Applications include sustainable product design, circular-economy strategies, policy guidance, and heritage preservation of material artifacts. Educational programs integrate engineering, design, architecture, and anthropology, training graduates to evaluate materials from both performance and societal perspectives.

While related to material science and material culture studies, materiaalienkuten seeks to articulate a distinct integrated perspective on material life cycles and meanings, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue rather than replacing existing disciplines.