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Handbook of Material Flow Analysis: For Environmental, Resource, and Waste Engineers
Abstract
Features:
- Continues to serve as the only book on material flow analysis (MFA)
- Updates information concerning MFA/SFA development
- Includes software STAN and links to STAN2WEB
- Contains new case studies about resource management and waste management
- Provides a fresh, data-based treatment of uncertainty
Summary:
Since the first issue of the handbook was published in October 2003, the field of material flow analysis (MFA) has developed rapidly, including hundreds of MFA studies all over the globe. MFA methodology has become a widely used technique in environmental management, resources management, and waste management. Today, most MFA done on a global basis uses the MFA methodology described in this handbook, because the methodology offers a concise, transparent, reproducible, and well-accepted framework for performing MFAs and substance flow analyses (SFAs).
... A widely applied method for UM analysis is material flow analysis (MFA) (Zhang, 2013). MFA is a systematic assessment of the state and changes of flows and stocks of materials within a defined system based on the mass balance principle (Brunner & Rechberger, 2017). The method can be applied to analyze UM following two distinct approaches: the top-down and the bottom-up (Augiseau & Barles, 2017). ...
... It works by calculating first the material flows and stocks of the internal system components and then summing them up for the whole system (Wang et al., 2020), and is based on bottom-up data, that is, data that are specific to the urban system, including on-field measurements, municipal statistics, and published studies (Beloin-Saint-Pierre et al., 2017). A bottom-up approach to analyze UM is the methodology of MFA by Brunner and Rechberger (2017). An important merit of this methodology is its versatility, as it can be applied to any reference system, ranging from a single industrial process to nations (Hoekman & Bellstedt, 2020). ...
... With this study, we aim to address these research gaps by demonstrating a bottom-up approach to analyze UM at the sectoral level based on MEFA. For this purpose, we perform a MEFA for the urban area of Umeå in Sweden following the methodology of Brunner and Rechberger (2017). ...
With the circular economy (CE) gaining more traction worldwide, local authorities are engaging in efforts to develop circular strategies at the urban level. Developing and monitoring such strategies require detailed quantitative information on material and energy flows, which can be obtained through an urban metabolism (UM) analysis. This study demonstrates a bottom‐up approach to analyze UM at the sectoral level based on material and energy flow analysis (MEFA), aiming to examine its utility within the context of the CE. The analysis is performed for Umeå urban area (Sweden) with a 5‐year timeframe (2017–2021). The application of MEFA provides a detailed quantitative description of material and energy flows per sector, indicating the critical sectors in terms of resource consumption and waste generation and the most significant flows. More specifically, it reveals that the construction sector and households are key sectors within Umeå’s UM and that construction materials, food products, fossil fuels, and drinking water are significant metabolic flows. Furthermore, the application of MEFA with a multi‐year timeframe uncovers trends in consumption rates of materials and generation rates of waste and emissions, revealing, for example, the correlation of material consumption and waste generation with the level of construction activity. Overall, by illustrating the potential of MEFA to provide a detailed quantitative analysis of material and energy flows, this study emphasizes its utility in supporting the design and monitoring of circular strategies at the urban level. At the same time, it highlights limitations of the method and suggests areas for future research.
... • Material Flow Analysis (MFA) is the foundation of systems analysis, following the mass balance principle (Brunner and Rechberger, 2016). MFA provides the baseline and future plastics material flows and importantly the processes that the material flows through. ...
... The material flows through different processes involved within the system generate relevant environmental and socio-economic impacts (Wagner, 2002;Krausmann et al., 2017). (Brunner and Rechberger, 2016). However, only the processes within Michigan were included in the impact assessments. ...
Many actions are underway at global, national, and local levels to increase plastics circularity. However, studies evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of such a transition are lacking at regional levels in the United States. In this work, the existing polyethylene terephthalate and polyolefin plastics supply chains in Michigan were compared to a potential future (‘NextCycle’) scenario that looks at increasing Michigan’s overall recycling rate to 45%. Material flow analysis data was combined with environmental and socio-economic metrics to evaluate the sustainability of these supply chains for the modeled scenarios. Overall, the NextCycle scenario for these supply chains achieved a net 14% and 34% savings of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts, when compared with their respective baseline values. Additionally, the NextCycle scenario showed a net gain in employment and wages, however, it showed a net loss of revenue generation outside of Michigan due to the avoided use of virgin resins in Michigan.
... synonyms (Brunner and Rechberger, 2016 waste, these studies did not consider the waste recycling process for further reuse, which can provide 37 financial benefits. 38 39 Therefore, the goal of the current study is to implement a systematic approach to waste management 40 through on-site recycling, with a particular focus on in-plant copper recycling in the PCB 41 manufacturing industry in order to support copper recovery rates and improve waste management 42 efficiency. ...
... By implementing these 29 strategies, the PCB manufacturing sector can reduce its dependence on virgin copper resources, while 30 minimizing environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with waste disposal regulations. 31 Regarding policy formulation, decision-makers can use these findings to develop targeted incentives 32 and regulations that promote sustainable practices within the PCB manufacturing industry. This may 33 ...
With the growing low-carbon economy, the demand for copper resources is increasing, and Taiwan, which is highly dependent on imports, is potentially vulnerable to future copper resource shortages. In this context, the copper resource loss through industrial waste flows is a significant issue that must be addressed effectively. This study aims to implement a systematic approach to in-plant copper recycling in Taiwan's printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing industry, to support copper recovery rates and improve waste management efficiency. Using material flow analysis, this study assesses copper resource utilization and identifies potential recycling opportunities. Material-flow cost accounting approach is employed to assess the economic benefits associated with in-plant copper recycling. Four representative plants, along with two recycling programs and eight rate scenarios, which recycle copper from various waste streams, are considered to evaluate their effects on each plant's economic health and waste management efficiency. The results indicate that the costs of material loss mainly affect the hidden costs of waste, accounting for over 80 % of these costs in the material-flow cost accounting. The study also demonstrates significant waste management benefits from in-plant copper recycling across both recycling programs, drastically reducing the costs for outsourced treatment of copper-containing waste while achieving a high copper recovery rate of over 95 % for each plant. The copper content in waste streams influences recycling process costs and the value derived from recycled products. Therefore, a process-oriented copper recycling program is advisable, especially for plants seeking to repurpose copper into products for external sale. This model helps determine benefits and provides recommendations for effective in-plant copper recycling programs. For instance, prioritizing the recycling of copper-containing waste from specific processes such as sheet cutting, lamination, soldering mask, and wastewater treatment is recommended, considering factors like process similarity, copper content, and waste proportions. It may serve as a valuable reference for both government and industry stakeholders seeking to promote future copper resource circulation in Taiwan and countries with PCB industries. However, further research is needed to address data gaps and integrate life cycle assessment methodologies for environmental evaluation.
... To identify the possible CE opportunities for reduction, reuse, and recycling, it is important to understand material flows. Such understanding can be obtained through material flow analysis (MFA) which is an approach for modelling the flow of materials through the anthroposphere (Brunner & Rechberger 2016). From the WM perspective MFA is especially relevant in the context of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of a product. ...
Countries around the world are gradually implementing the transition to a circular economy in waste management. This effort should be initiated already at the waste producers. It is necessary to plan and monitor waste management in as much detail as possible, i.e. at the level of micro-regions. At present, only indicators at the national level are analysed, as more detailed data at the micro-regional level are often not available or are burdened with significant errors and inconsistencies. The calculation of waste management indicators for micro-regions will allow to identify the potential for increasing material or energy recovery and to plan the necessary infrastructure directly to these locations instead of blanket and often ineffective legislative actions. This paper presents an approach for determining the producer-treatment linkage, i.e., provides information about each produced waste, where it was treated, and in what way. Such information is often not available based on historical waste management data as there are repeated waste transfers and often aggregated within a micro-region. The network flow approach is based on an iterative procedure combining a simulation with multi-criteria optimization. The chosen criteria replicate expert estimates in investigated issue such as minimum flow splitting, and minimum transfer micro-regions. A data reconciliation is performed where the deviation from all simulations is minimized, given that the capacity constraints of nodes and arcs resulting from the database must be satisfied. The approach is tested on a generated sample task to evaluate the precision and time complexity of the developed tool. Finally, the presented approach is applied to address a case study in the Czech Republic, within which it is possible to identify treatment location and methods for waste from individual regions.
... Concrete, as an essential building material, has been an essential element in the construction industry for numerous generations. (1) There has been a huge increase in the desire for concrete to exhibit properties beyond its conventional duty as a fundamental structural constituent. The emergence of self-sensing concrete marks a revolutionary advancement in construction materials, as it can autonomously monitor its structural well-being and offer instantaneous data on its state. ...
This research focuses on addressing the problem of utilizing high-value sustainable materials in the creation of self-sensing concrete pavement. The study specifically explores the incorporation of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), fly ash, and silica fume in a single mix design to achieve sustainability objectives. In the previous work by the authors, laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the optimal proportions of RAP, fly ash, and silica fume, with a focus on achieving desired mechanical properties. Mechanical tests, encompassing compressive strength, flexural strength, and indirect tensile strength, were conducted within this framework to assess the performance of the concrete mixture. The selected concrete mix in this study incorporated 40% RAP as a replacement for virgin aggregate, a fly ash-to-cement ratio of 0.8, and the addition of silica fume at 8% relative to the weight of cementitious materials. Structural health and durability were monitored in real time by embedding two electrodes within the concrete matrix. The results highlighted the significant impact of adding RAP, fly ash, and silica fume on the mechanical properties of the hardened concrete. The optimized combination design indicated improved strength and self-sensing behavior, which was related to the beneficial impacts of silica fume and fly ash on mechanical and self-sensing capabilities. This research contributes to the advancement of sustainable and intelligent infrastructure by demonstrating the feasibility of integrating recycled materials and self-sensing technology into concrete pavement construction. Additionally, the study extended its investigation to evaluate the performance of sustainable concrete under dynamic loads using ANSYS analysis. The investigation, which was performed on a structure with dimensions of 21 meters in length and 3 meters in width, observed that the use of sustainable materials improved the mechanical behavior of the structure under moving loads.
... By analyzing the flows of recycled plastics, MFA helps evaluate the effectiveness of recycling systems and identify potential bottlenecks or inefficiencies. This information can guide the development of strategies to enhance recycling processes, improve material recovery rates, and reduce the reliance on virgin plastics [26]. In addition to quantitative analysis, MFA can be complemented with qualitative assessments. ...
In today's world, the proliferation of electronic devices has led to a significant increase in electronic waste (e-waste) generation, necessitating the development of innovative approaches for sustainable management. E-waste recycling, which involves the recovery of valuable materials from discarded electronic devices, has emerged as a promising solution to the growing e-waste problem. This article presents an analysis of the current state of research on e-waste management, encompassing various recycling approaches, including mechanical, chemical, and biological methods. The analysis revealed that most of the research on e-waste management has focused on the development of recycling technologies, with a significant emphasis on the use of chemical methods. However, there is a growing interest in the use of biological methods, such as bioreactors and microbial technologies, for e-waste management. Many challenges including lack of uniform regulations, inadequate infrastructure, and high cost of recycling technologies were initiated. The formation of product reuse through remanufacturing, and the deployment of effective recycling facilities are necessary for the management of e-waste. The challenge is to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions to e-waste management (plastic-based e-waste and metals-based e-waste). Several technologies are currently applied to plastic-based e-waste and metals-based e-waste management. primary, secondary, and tertiary recycling of plastic-based e-waste and metallurgical approaches for metals-based e-waste are ideal methods for e-waste management. Furthermore, the techno-economic feasibility of different e-waste recycling approaches was estimated. The analysis suggests that while some recycling approaches are economically viable, there is a need for more research to optimize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these methods.
... This study uses SFA, a tool that links a substance's sources, routes, and intermediate and ultimate sinks (Brunner and Rechberger, 2016), to analyze the flows and stocks of Pb in the LAB industry of Bangladesh. ...
Despite global efforts to phase out lead (Pb) products, their widespread use persists, notably in the lead-acid battery (LAB) industry. This trend is also evident in Bangladesh, where sustainability concerns surrounding the largely unexplored, yet highly vibrant informal sector remain unaddressed. It is imperative to unravel a comprehensive picture to implement targeted formalization strategies effectively at a meso level. This study aims to achieve this by using a substance flow analysis (SFA), life cycle assessment (LCA), and human health risk assessment (HHRA) approach, to highlight the environmental impacts and health risks associated with the industry's thriving informal sector. This sector emerges as a towering colossus of Pb pollution in the country, with a striking 86 % of the total Pb loss occurring from informal recycling alone. Informal electric vehicle (EV) LAB manufacturing is identified as a major contributor to land use, global warming, fine particulate matter formation, and terrestrial acidification impacts, with global warming and fine particulate matter contributing about 40 % each to the total human health impacts. Workers in the informal sector, the most overlooked victims of this industry, face alarming risks of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic toxicity-related diseases, with oral exposure route making up 90.8 % of the total non-carcinogenic risks. As developing nations grapple with similar waste management challenges, often exacerbated by their socio-economic and political contexts, these findings underscore the urgent need for a robust national action plan. Collaboration among governmental entities and international stakeholders is imperative to execute targeted cleanup initiatives and uphold compliance with international environmental and public health standards.
... Nutrient losses (by weight) from the pre-consumer Australian sheep meat value chain were quantified, based on the FLWS (Food Loss and Waste Protocol, 2016) using the principles of a material flow analysis (Brunner and Rechberger, 2017). ...
To achieve sustainable development, United Nation members have agreed to reduce food loss along the pre-consumer food supply chain. Food loss and waste is a significant challenge facing Australia and the world, with an estimated one third of all food produced locally being lost or wasted. Globally, Australia is the second largest producer of sheep meat and, locally in Australia sheep meat is the second largest meat industry. Previous assessments of Australian livestock industries estimate low levels of food product losses from the sheep meat chain. This case study aimed to quantify nutrient losses at the point of slaughter of Australian lambs and sheep, using a mass balance approach with secondary data. The results from this study align with this previous assessment with respect to the level of products and nutrients downgraded at the point of slaughter, except for the impact of cadmium contamination on adult sheep liver and kidney downgrades. In turn, cadmium contamination emerged as a key contributor to micronutrient losses, notably dietary folate equivalents, and vitamin A retinol equivalents (RE). There was moderate to high uncertainty in the outputs of the assessment, predominantly due to the absence of data. Addressing these challenges, particularly the absence of offal production data, is crucial as it influences the overall accuracy of the results. This study identifies areas for improvement in the Australian sheep meat value chain, including data governance, at both the macro and micro levels. It also serves as a foundational step in understanding how reducing food and nutrient losses in the Australian sheep meat value chain could contribute to food security and nutrition goals.
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of criteria, indicators, and methods for measuring and assessing the degree of circular economy development. It focuses on providing a clear methodological framework for evaluating the circular economy and identifying key elements that are important for monitoring and assessing progress towards a sustainable and efficient circular economy. In the first part of the paper, criteria for assessing circular economy development are analyzed. Special attention is given to reducing the use of natural resources, emissions of harmful gases, and increasing the share of renewable or recycled resources, while criteria for social and economic impact are also identified. The second part of the paper includes a review of relevant indicators at the national level, such as material flows, resource productivity, and recycling rates, as well as indicators at the company level that quantitatively measure progress in implementing circular strategies. Various methods for assessing the degree of circular economy are also discussed, with life cycle assessment (LCA), material flow analysis (MFA), and input-output analysis identified as the most commonly used methods. The discussion of key elements and analysis highlights the need for further research and collaboration to enhance the methodology for measuring and assessing the circular economy. This paper provides a basis for policymaking and decision-making aimed at sustainable development.
In order to promote sustainable production by using secondary raw material from existing material stocks, complementary to primary raw material, information about the future availability of secondary resources constitutes a prerequisite. In this study, a dynamic material flow model of historic aluminium (Al) flows in Austria is combined with forecasts on future Al consumption to estimate the development of old scrap generation and in-use stocks until 2050. In-use stocks are estimated to increase by 60 % to 515 kg/cap. by 2050 assuming a scenario of moderate economic growth. Old scrap generation in 2050 would thereby more than double (up to 30 kg/cap.) in comparison to the 2010 amounts. Despite this substantial increase in old scrap generation, industrial self-supply from old scrap will probably not exceed 20 %, and final consumption self-supply of Al will not exceed 40 % given present conditions. Opportunities and limits of increasing self-supply through higher collection rates and lower scrap export levels are investigated in this study as the European Raw Material Initiative considers enhanced recycling to be a key measure to ensure future resource supply. Based on these analyses, a self-sustaining Al supply from post-consumer Al is not expected if current trends of Al usage continue. Therefore, comprehensive resource policy should be based on a profound understanding of the availability of primary and secondary resources potentials and their dynamics.