Nate Hagens defines the 'materials economy' as a linear economic system focused predominantly on the extraction, production, consumption, and disposal of materials and goods. He highlights that this process is inherently unsustainable due to its heavy reliance on finite natural resources and its contribution to environmental degradation. According to Hagens, the materials economy operates on a 'take-make-waste' paradigm, where resources are depleted from the earth, transformed into products, and ultimately discarded as waste after use. He emphasizes that this model overlooks ecological limits and long-term outcomes, stressing the need for a transition towards more circular, regenerative approaches that prioritize resource efficiency, waste minimization, and the preservation of natural capital.

See also: circular economy, renewable energy, fossil fuel, carbon pulse