scholarly journals HOW TO INCREASE CIRCULARITY IN THE SWISS ECONOMY?

Detritus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 25-31
Author(s):  
Cecilia Matasci ◽  
Marcel Gauch ◽  
Heinz Boeni
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flows ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
High Level ◽  
Recycled Waste

Environmental threats are triggered by the overconsumption of raw materials. It is therefore necessary to move towards a society that both reduces extraction and keeps the majority of the extracted raw materials in the socio-economic system. Circular economy is a key strategy to reach these goals. To implement it effectively, it is necessary to understand and monitor material flows and to define hotspots, i.e. materials that need to be tackled with the highest priority. This paper is aimed at determining how to increase circularity in the Swiss economy by means of a Material Flow Analysis coupled with a simplified Life Cycle Assessment. After having characterized material flows, we analyzed two types of hotspots: i) Raw materials consumed and/or disposed at high level, and ii) Raw materials whose extraction and production generates high environmental impacts. The Material Flow Analysis shows that each year 119 Mt of raw materials enter the Swiss economy. Therefrom, 15 Mt are derived from recycled waste inside the country; 67 Mt leave the system yearly; 27 Mt towards disposal. Out of the disposed materials, 56% are recycled and re-enter the socio-economic system as secondary materials. Looking at hotspots; concrete, asphalt, gravel and sand are among materials that are consumed and disposed at high level. Yet, looking at greenhouse gas emissions generated during extraction and production, metals - including the ones in electrical and electronic equipment - as well as textiles are among the categories that carry the biggest burden on the environment per unit of material.

Dynamic Material Flow Analysis of Steel Resources in China Based on Circular Economy Theory

2013 ◽  
Vol 813 ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Wang ◽  
Ze Yi Jiang ◽  
Xin Yi Geng ◽  
Shi Yu Hao
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
National Level ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Basic Material

The circular economy (CE) is a new development strategy for China to alleviate the contradiction between rapid economic growth and the shortage of raw materials and energy. As the basic material, steel is a key driver of the world's economy. Therefore, it is essential to set up CE indicators system to understand the mechanism of steel resources role in the circular economy. In this paper, a national level material flow evaluation framework based on CE theory is presented at the first. Then steel resources national lifetime cycle diagram is built based on dynamic Material Flow Analysis (MFA) method considering the steel lifetime circular flow characteristics. Under the guidance of this diagram, the material flow results of various stages (such as production process, fabrication & manufacturing process, in-use process, etc.) of steel lifetime cycle between 2001-2010 in China is obtained, including the end-of-life scarp amount of nine downstream industries. The results indicate that China steel resources has made gratifying achievements in improving productivity, reducing energy consumption and related pollution emission, but the degree of overall circulation remains to be improved urgently. In the end, a sketch of the future relevant policy recommendations are provided.

scholarly journals The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy

1970 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Alberto Da Costa Machado ◽  
Norbert Fenzl ◽  
Armin Mathis
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Material Flows ◽  
Material Consumption ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
The Relationship

A systemic approach to sustainability is suggested where the society-environment relationship is conceived in terms of complex, open systems. The sustainability of the relationship between society and the environment can be analyzed with the help of Material Flow Analysis (MFA). MFA reveals aspects of the economy that concern its relationship to the environment and can't be covered by monetary analyses. In this work material flows and their resulting indicators for the Brazilian economy from 1975 to 1995 are presented. The results show that the Brazilian economy in 1995 became much more intensive in material than in 1975. This development is in line with a global trend of material consumption becoming more intensive and unsustainable. The global economic system has not diminished its size, but expanded its consumption drive in relation to the environment.

scholarly journals The Sustainability of Complex Economic Systems. An Application of National Material Flow Analysis (MFA) to the Brazilian Economy

1970 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
José Alberto Da Costa Machado ◽  
Norbert Fenzl ◽  
Armin Mathis
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Material Flows ◽  
Material Consumption ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
The Relationship

A systemic approach to sustainability is suggested where the society-environment relationship is conceived in terms of complex, open systems. The sustainability of the relationship between society and the environment can be analyzed with the help of Material Flow Analysis (MFA). MFA reveals aspects of the economy that concern its relationship to the environment and can't be covered by monetary analyses. In this work material flows and their resulting indicators for the Brazilian economy from 1975 to 1995 are presented. The results show that the Brazilian economy in 1995 became much more intensive in material than in 1975. This development is in line with a global trend of material consumption becoming more intensive and unsustainable. The global economic system has not diminished its size, but expanded its consumption drive in relation to the environment.

Dynamics of Regional Recycling Economy Development Based on Material Flow Analysis: A Case Study in Shandong Province

2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 2961-2966
Author(s):  
Dian Ming Geng ◽  
Jia Xiang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Shandong Province ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Recycling Economy ◽  
Material Input ◽  
Inputs And Outputs

In order to study the development of regional recycling economy, the material inputs and outputs of the eco-economic system in Shandong Province during the period from 1996 to 2009 were systematically analyzed by the material flow analysis(MFA). The results show that, (1)excluding water, material inputs and outputs rose persistently, but both were lower than the rate of GDP growth. (2)Water supply had a turning point in 2003, from 25.239 billion tons down to 21.934 billion tons, followed by the total annual water supply has been maintained at 220 million tons. At the same time the amount of wastewater emissions is increasing, especially domestic wastewater emissions had faster growth and that increased pressure on the regional water environment;(3) Steady increase in material input intensity, material output intensity presented a first increased and then decreased trend, that showed since Shandong Province proposed the strategic planning to develop circular economy, the development of regional circular economy have improved the material utilization efficiency and made a material reduction in output in the case of material input growth achieved. The rapid increase of material input and output efficiency further illustrated the efficiency of resource comprehensive utilization and waste output have been significantly improved.

Using regional material flow analysis and geospatial mapping to support the transition to a circular economy for plastics

2022 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 106085
Author(s):  
Neha Mehta ◽  
Eoin Cunningham ◽  
Martin Doherty ◽  
Peter Sainsbury ◽  
Ife Bolaji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Geospatial Mapping

scholarly journals Dynamic Material Flow Analysis of PET, PE, and PP Flows in Europe: Evaluation of the Potential for Circular Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (24) ◽  
pp. 16166-16175
Author(s):  
Marie Kampmann Eriksen ◽  
Kostyantyn Pivnenko ◽  
Giorgia Faraca ◽  
Alessio Boldrin ◽  
Thomas Fruergaard Astrup
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis

Material flow analysis (MFA) of an eco-economic system: a case study of Wujin District, Changzhou, China

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heping Huang ◽  
Jun Bi ◽  
Xiangmei Li ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
Jie Yang
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
System A

scholarly journals Contribution Towards a Comprehensive Methodology for Wood-Based Biomass Material Flow Analysis in a Circular Economy Setting

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Alexandra Marques ◽  
Jorge Cunha ◽  
Annelies De Meyer ◽  
Kranti Navare
Keyword(s):  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Wood Resource ◽  
Infrastructure Investments

It is challenging to quantify the production of wood-based biomass, to define the type and where it comes from, how it is used, and the amount that remains available. This information is crucial for the implementation of national and transnational regulations and is a pillar for the development of the future bio-based circular economy. A variety of studies estimate the production of biomass, performs material flow analyses, or addresses supply chain modelling. These studies are often built upon distinct assumptions, tailored to a specific purpose, and often poorly described. This makes comparison amongst studies, generalization of results, or replication hard to even impossible. This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for wood-based biomass material flow analysis, anchored in Material Flow Analysis, built upon literature review and deducted through systematization of previous studies. This is a five-step approach, consisting of (1) adopt proper terminology; (2) obtain accurate estimates for the biomass flows; (3) Sankey diagram for resource balance representation; (4) scenario analysis; (5) stakeholders validation. The focus is to provide instructions for producing a generalized Sankey diagram, from the categorization of biomass resources, uses/applications in a circular economy setting, towards the development of scenario analysis. Its practical implementation is presented by defining the yearly wood-based biomass resource balance of Portugal and the waste wood resource balance of Flanders. The main data sources for the quantification of the biomass sources and uses/applications are identified. Based on the insights from these case studies, our methodological approach already shows to be replicable and with comparable results. This enables the comparison of resource flows between different regions and countries and also monitoring the progress over time. This leads to improved data which can be instruments for supporting companies’ decision-making processes (e.g., infrastructure investments or other strategic decisions), as well as designing policy strategies and incentives.

scholarly journals The application of MFA for rural industrial symbiosis assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 916 (1) ◽  
pp. 012024
Author(s):  
D Agustina ◽  
A D Wicaksono ◽  
C Meidiana
Keyword(s):  
Material Flow ◽  
Aluminum Industry ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Production Equipment ◽  
Waste Utilization ◽  
Industrial Symbiosis ◽  
The Aluminum Industry

Abstract One of proposed strategies to solve current environmental challenges includes the industrial symbiosis. However, proper evaluation methods are required to measure the potential benefits of industrial symbiosis, one of those includes the material flow analysis (MFA). MFA develops a unified database and a Step-by-Step process starting from the input, process, and output process to clarify the distribution of waste and the recycling process in the aluminum industry. The aluminum industry is regarded as an energy-intensive and high-pollution industry. The development of industrial symbiosis in the aluminum industry has significantly reduced environmental pressures and facilitated green development and green industry. Home industries that process aluminum slag raw materials require high energy thereby generating high waste during the production process. The applied method includes material flow analysis (MFA). The MFA results indicated that the production elements of the aluminum slag industry consist of 11 elements ranging from raw materials, fuel, clean water, human resources, capital, production processes, production equipment, housekeeping, products produced, waste to waste utilization. Approximately 44% of the industry sold waste to other industries, 42% of the waste was reprocessed, and 14% of the aluminum industry stockpiles production was in the form of waste in open spaces. The industrial symbiosis in the aluminum industry was an open cycle, indicating that the symbiosis produces waste, which had not been fully utilized; but in fact, the waste had potential as a source of raw materials, energy, and materials in other industrial processes.

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