Unprocessed material refers to substances or materials that have not undergone any sort of modification, refinement, or processing to alter their natural state. It generally denotes raw or natural resources that are harvested or extracted directly from the environment or the earth's crust.
The term typically encompasses a broad range of materials across various industries and sectors, including but not limited to minerals, ores, timber, crude oil, agricultural produce, and natural fibers. Unprocessed materials can exist in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms, depending on their inherent properties and composition.
Often considered the initial stage in the supply chain, unprocessed materials serve as the foundation for different manufacturing processes or value-added production methods. They are used as the primary input for further processing, conversion, or transformation into finished goods that are suitable for consumption or commercial use.
Unprocessed materials can be found in their natural or original state, often requiring extraction from the earth or harvesting from natural ecosystems. They may possess impurities, have irregular shapes or sizes, and exhibit a wide array of physical and chemical properties. Consequently, to improve the quality, purity, or usefulness of unprocessed materials, they often undergo subsequent processing steps, such as sorting, purification steps, milling, or refining—converting them into processed or semi-processed materials that better align with specific industrial or commercial requirements.
Overall, unprocessed materials are fundamental components of many industries, serving as crucial resources that are transformed through processing to fulfill an array of human needs and demands.
