Transcript Center for Resilience - Dutch Waste Management Association

OECD Global Forum on Environment
Mechelen, Belgium, October 2010
Sustainable
Materials Management
Joseph Fiksel
Executive Director, Center for Resilience
The Ohio State University, USA
Sustainability Advisor, U.S. EPA
Office of Research & Development*
*The content of this presentation reflects the views of the author and does not represent the policies or position of the U.S. EPA.
Exceeding Planetary Boundaries
Safe
Operating
Space
Biodiversity
Loss
Source: Stockholm Resilience Centre, 2009
Sustainable Development
“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
- World Commission on Environment & Development, 1987
Challenges
• Global warming, melting ice, rising oceans
• Ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss
• Resource scarcity (water, land, minerals)
• Infectious diseases (viral, bacterial)
• Urbanization, social disintegration
• Income gaps (rich vs. poor)
• Population growth
The Kaya Identity
Total carbon burden
= population × ($GDP/capita)
× (resources/$GDP)
× (burden/resource unit)
Global challenge:
Decouple resource consumption
from economic growth
Sustainable Materials Management
“SMM is an approach to promote
sustainable materials use, integrating
actions targeted at reducing negative
environmental impacts and preserving
natural capital throughout the life-cycle
of materials, taking into account
economic efficiency and social equity.”
Working Group on
Waste Prevention
and Recycling
Global Supply Chains
Interdependence of the United Kingdom
Line thickness denotes quantity of imports
Networks are both more
fragile and more resilient
than isolated systems
Source: New Economic Foundation
The Material-Energy-Water Nexus
Material
demand is a
major driver
of both energy
and water use
Materials
Energy
~ 1 kg per liter
excludes
ecosystem
services
Water
~ 100 liters per $
Source: J. Fiksel, “Evaluating Supply Chain Sustainability,”
Chemical Engineering Progress, May 2010.
Systems View of Material Flows
Industry
(economic capital)
economic value
is created for
society
Society
(human capital)
labor is utilized
in industry
ecological goods
and services are
utilized in
industry
some waste
is recovered
and recycled
waste and emissions
mostly return to the
environment
ecological goods
and services are
utilized in society
Environment (natural capital)
Adapted from: J. Fiksel, A Framework for Sustainable Materials Management, Journal of Materials, August 2006.
SMM Policy Intervention Options
Principle 3 - Use the full suite of policy instruments
collaborate
Industry
educate
Society
evaluate
eliminate
Principle 2 – Adopt a life
cycle perspective
Principle 4 - Engage all
parts of society
facilitate
innovate
regulate
motivate
Principle 1 - Preserve natural capital
mitigate
ameliorate
Environment
Preserving Natural Capital
Direct resource
consumption
Supply chain
Footprint
Full ecological
footprint

€ $
Purchased
goods & services
(indirect use)
Embedded ecosystem
goods and services –
e.g., water resources
Life Cycle
Assessment
(LCA)
Example: Snack Food Industry
“Embedded” natural capital for a typical U.S. food
supply chain, converted into energy equivalents
Source: OSU Center for Resilience
Natural Capital Consumed (joules) per $million Output
Snack Food Manufacturing Supply Chain – U.S. Average
1. E +17
1. E +16
1. E +15
1. E +14
70 million
gallons
120
barrels
1. E +13
1. E +12
1. E +11
1. E +10
1. E +09
So
il E
ro
sio
n
Hy Sun
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dr
o p ight
ot
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eo
ia
l
th
er
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al
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in
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ra
ss
W
oo
d
W
a
Cr ter
u
Na de
tu oil
ra
lg
as
R
M
a
e
No
w
t
Co
n- als
m
al
&
et
m
al
lic inin
g
Cr min
us
e
h e ra l
s
d
St
on
e
De
tr i San
ta
lm d
at
te
Nu r
cle
ar
1. E +08
Life Cycle of Materials
Value
Creation
Inputs
Materials
Energy
Production
Value
Extraction
Outputs
Products
Utilization &
Supply
Chain
Consumption
By-Products
Processes
Processes
Non-Product
Waste &
Emissions
Revalorization
Virgin
Materials
Recycled Parts
& Materials
Recovery
Processes
Extraction
Residual
Materials
Disposal
Environment – Natural Capital
Example: Aluminum Industry
Recycling uses
5% of energy &
material flows
vs. primary
Source: Alcan
Industrial Ecology
Industrial ecology is a process systems
approach that mimics natural cycles,
converting waste into “food”
Sustainable Business Practices
Release Reduction
Hazard Reduction
Benign Waste Disposition
Product Recovery
Disassembly
Energy & Material
Conservation
Source Reduction
Servicization
Recyclability
Dematerialization
Detoxification
Value
Recovery
Capital Protection
and Renewal
Human Capital
Natural Capital
Economic Capital
Source: J. Fiksel, Design for Environment:
A Guide to Sustainable Product Development,
McGraw-Hill 2009
SMM Topics to be Explored
• Case Studies
– Critical metals
– Aluminum
– Wood fibres
– Plastics
• Innovative Practices
– Private Sector
– Government
– NGO
• Linkages
– Green Growth
– Integrated Product Policy
– Sustainable Production &
Consumption
– 3R Initiative
– Resource Productivity
– Belgian SMM Proposal
• Policies
–
–
–
–
–
Principles
Instruments
Indicators
Coherence
Adaptation
OECD Global Forum on Environment
Mechelen, Belgium, October 2010
Merci
dank u
Thank you
Resilience.OSU.edu