Steven B. Young

Steven B. Young is an Associate Professor at the School of Environment, Enterprise & Development (SEED) at the University of Waterloo, Canada, with expertise in industrial ecology and sustainability management. He holds degrees in metallurgy and materials science from the University of Alberta (B.A.Sc., 1987) and the University of Toronto (M.A.Sc., 1989; Ph.D., 1996). His research focuses on corporate social responsibility, life-cycle assessment, responsible sourcing, sustainability standards, and critical raw materials.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Toronto (1996)
  • M.A.Sc. in Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Toronto (1989)
  • B.A.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering (Coop), University of Alberta (1987)

Recent research explores critical raw materials in low-carbon technologies, circular economy frameworks, healthcare sustainability, and conflict mineral supply chains. His publications span journals like Journal of Cleaner Production, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, and Journal of Industrial Ecology, with case studies on medical oxygen, EV battery reuse, and supply risk characterization methods.

Key projects include the Lumet Initiative (2024-2027) for metal sustainability and traceability, the International Round Table on Criticality (founded via EU funding), and the TripleLink (2020-2022) integration of LCA with chemical process simulation. He contributes to ResponsibleSteel and the Responsible Minerals Initiative as a voting/committee member.

Contact: sb.young@uwaterloo.ca | Office: EV3 4243 | On sabbatical from May 2024 to April 2025.