nonregenerable
Nonregenerable, or non-regenerable, describes natural resources or assets that cannot be replenished or regenerated on a timescale meaningful to humans. When such resources are consumed, their stock declines irreversibly within the foreseeable future. This contrasts with renewable resources, which can replenish through natural processes or through sustainable management.
Common examples include fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), and most mineral resources (metals such as iron,
Implications for policy and economics: since the stock is finite, consumption patterns may lead to rising prices,
Terminology and usage: nonregenerable is sometimes used interchangeably with non-renewable, though nonrenewable is the more common
See also: renewable resource, non-renewable resource, sustainability, recycling, circular economy, peak resource theory.