Using material/substance flow analysis to support sustainable development assessment: A literature review and outlook

Abstract The essence of sustainable development (SD) is to deliver social and economic development without compromising environmental quality. Material Flow Analysis or Substance Flow Analysis (M/SFA) is a well-established method to assess the sustainability of socioeconomic development and environmental change, particularly from the perspective of improving material/substance flow efficiency. A material/substance flow chart or accounting table makes SD assessment results comprehensive, comparable and verifiable by (1) providing systematic information and indicators for SD assessment, (2) identifying critical pathways, links and key substances in the anthroposphere, and (3) allowing the dynamic interaction between material flow and social, economic and/or environmental processes to be analyzed. However, the role of M/SFA in SD assessment could be expanded by strengthening simultaneous analysis of various features of material/substance flows, integrating M/SFA with other assessment methods, improving sustainability indicators, and further developing standardized methods for material classification, data acquisition and processing, and measuring indirect flows and unused flows. It is anticipated that future improvements in monitoring material/substance flows in the anthroposphere will provide more systematic information, allowing M/SFA to play an even greater role in SD assessment.

[1]  Norman Lee,et al.  Integrated Impact Assessment for Sustainable Development: A Case Study Approach , 2001 .

[2]  P. Brunner,et al.  Substance Flow Analysis , 2009 .

[3]  M. Raugei,et al.  A novel approach to the problem of geographic allocation of environmental impact in Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flow Analysis , 2009 .

[4]  G. Brundtland,et al.  Our common future , 1987 .

[5]  Xueyi Guo,et al.  Substance flow analysis of copper in China , 2008 .

[6]  Bi Jun,et al.  Evaluating Regional Circular Economy based on MFA:A Case Study in Wujin District of Changzhou City , 2006 .

[7]  Naohiro Goto,et al.  A method for regional-scale material flow and decoupling analysis: A demonstration case study of Aichi prefecture, Japan , 2008 .

[8]  Fabrice Mathieux,et al.  End-of-life Product-Specific Material Flow Analysis. Application to Aluminum Coming from End-of-life Commercial Vehicles in Europe , 2010 .

[9]  B. Moldan,et al.  How to understand and measure environmental sustainability: Indicators and targets , 2012 .

[10]  Claudia R. Binder,et al.  From material flow analysis to material flow management Part II: the role of structural agent analysis , 2007 .

[11]  Andrea Colantonio,et al.  Social sustainability: exploring the linkages between research, policy and practice , 2011 .

[12]  Chen Jining.  Substance flow analysis of phosphorus cycle system in China , 2006 .

[13]  Brandon Kuczenski,et al.  Material flow analysis of polyethylene terephthalate in the US, 1996-2007 , 2010 .

[14]  Thomas E. Graedel,et al.  The contemporary copper cycle of Asia , 2003 .

[15]  Jadwiga R. Ziolkowska,et al.  Product generational dematerialization indicator: A case of crude oil in the global economy , 2011 .

[16]  Stephen H. Levine,et al.  Application of the Sequential Interindustry Model (SIM) to Life Cycle Assessment , 2009 .

[17]  Yoshihiro Adachi,et al.  Material stocks and flows accounting for copper and copper-based alloys in Japan , 2009 .

[18]  H. Weisz,et al.  Methodology and Indicators of Economy‐wide Material Flow Accounting , 2011 .

[19]  Tak Hur,et al.  Dynamic material flow analysis of steel resources in Korea , 2011 .

[20]  P. Brunner,et al.  Metabolism of the Anthroposphere , 1991 .

[21]  M T Torres Rodríguez,et al.  Combining LCT tools for the optimization of an industrial process: material and energy flow analysis and best available techniques. , 2011, Journal of hazardous materials.

[22]  Jan Kovanda,et al.  Material flow accounts, balances and derived indicators for the Czech Republic during the 1990s: results and recommendations for methodological improvements , 2003 .

[23]  Mohan Yellishetty,et al.  Iron ore and steel production trends and material flows in the world: Is this really sustainable? , 2010 .

[24]  Bernd Page,et al.  Advances in Environmental Informatics: Integration of Discrete Event Simulation Methodology with ecological Material Flow Analysis for Modelling eco-efficient Systems , 2010 .

[25]  Thomas E. Graedel,et al.  Aluminium in-use stocks in the state of Connecticut , 2008 .

[26]  Michael Läufer.  Creating a Sustainability Culture – A (Human Resources) Management Perspective for Sustainable Pharmacy , 2010 .

[27]  E. Voet,et al.  Dematerialization: Not Just a Matter of Weight , 2004 .

[28]  Robert B. Gordon,et al.  The Multilevel Cycle of Anthropogenic Zinc , 2005 .

[29]  Oksana Mont,et al.  Clarifying the Concept of Product-Service System , 2002 .

[30]  R. Kates,et al.  Characterizing and measuring sustainable development , 2003 .

[31]  Sun Qi-hong.  Research on strategy for low carbon economic development based on material flow analysis , 2008 .

[32]  Helmut Yabar,et al.  Comparative assessment of the co-evolution of environmental indicator systems in Japan and China , 2012 .

[33]  S. Suh.  Handbook of input-output economics in industrial ecology , 2009 .

[34]  Lennart Olsson,et al.  Categorising tools for sustainability assessment , 2007 .

[35]  N. E. Gallopoulos,et al.  Strategies for Manufacturing , 1989 .

[36]  Other.  Effectiveness of environmental taxes and charges for managing sand, gravel and rock extraction in selected EU countries , 2008 .

[37]  Stefan Bringezu,et al.  Material flow analysis , 2002 .

[38]  Samuel Niza,et al.  The material basis of the global economy Worldwide patterns of natural resource extraction and their implications for sustainable resource use policies , 2007 .

[39]  A. Nissinen,et al.  An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and material flows caused by the Finnish economy using the ENVIMAT model , 2011 .

[40]  Chen Xiaoqiu,et al.  Material Input and Output Analysis of Chinese Economy System , 2003 .

[41]  Dominic Wittmer,et al.  Copper flows in buildings, infrastructure and mobiles: a dynamic model and its application to Switzerland , 2011 .

[42]  Keiji Kakudate,et al.  Chlorine Flow Analysis in Japan. , 2000 .

[43]  Friedrich Hinterberger,et al.  Material flows vs. 'natural capital': What makes an economy sustainable? , 1997 .

[44]  Gavin M. Mudd,et al.  The steel industry, abiotic resource depletion and life cycle assessment: a real or perceived issue? , 2011 .

[45]  Robert Costanza,et al.  Economic Reasons for Conserving Wild Nature , 2002, Science.

[46]  Vasilis Fthenakis,et al.  Dynamic modeling of cadmium substance flow with zinc and steel demand in Japan , 2012 .

[47]  Stephen H. Roxburgh,et al.  A model integrating patch dynamics, competing species and the intermediate disturbance hypothesis , 2006 .

[48]  Stefan Bringezu,et al.  Industrial ecology and material flow analysis: Basic concepts, policy relevance and some case studies , 2003 .

[49]  Min Qiao,et al.  Material flow analysis of phosphorus through food consumption in two megacities in northern China. , 2011, Chemosphere.

[50]  Xander Olsthoorn,et al.  Environmental Indicators for Business: A Review of the Literature and Standardisation Methods , 2001 .

[51]  A. Tukker,et al.  Environmental Impact of the use of Natural Resources and Products , 2009 .

[52]  LU Zhong-wu.  Aluminum Flow Analysis Based on Average Service Life of Aluminum Products in China , 2010 .

[53]  Deng Wei,et al.  Advances in studies of sustainable utilization of agricultural water resources , 2005 .

[54]  J. David Tàbara,et al.  European Research on Sustainable Development , 2011 .

[55]  Martin Kumar Patel,et al.  Plastics materials flow analysis for India , 2006 .

[56]  Emily S. J. Rauschert,et al.  Moving from pattern to process: Coexistence mechanisms under intermediate disturbance regimes , 2004 .

[57]  Lei Shi,et al.  Substance flow analysis of aluminium in mainland China for 2001, 2004 and 2007: Exploring its initial sources, eventual sinks and the pathways linking them , 2010 .

[58]  Gregory A. Keoleian,et al.  Dynamic Modeling of In‐Use Cement Stocks in the United States , 2008 .

[59]  H. Weisz,et al.  The Weight of Nations : Material Outflows from Industrial Economies , 2000 .

[60]  Richard Ruggles,et al.  System of national accounts, 1993 , 1995 .

[61]  J. Heywood,et al.  Aluminum Stock and Flows in U.S. Passenger Vehicles and Implications for Energy Use , 2009 .

[62]  Minghong Chen,et al.  Agricultural phosphorus flow and its environmental impacts in China. , 2008, The Science of the total environment.

[63]  Xia Chuan,et al.  Review on Studies of Economy,wide Material Flow Analysis , 2005 .

[64]  I-Cheng Chang,et al.  Identification of Pollution Source of Cadmium in Soil. Application of Material Flow Analysis and A Case Study in Taiwan (11 pp) , 2007, Environmental science and pollution research international.

[65]  Stefan Bringezu,et al.  Economy-wide material flow indicators: Overall framework, purposes and uses and comparison of material use and resource intensity of the Czech Republic, Germany and the EU-15 , 2012 .

[66]  Nina Månsson,et al.  Substance flow analyses of metals and organic compounds in an urban environment : – the Stockholm example , 2009 .

[67]  Daniel B. Müller,et al.  Stock dynamics for forecasting material flows—Case study for housing in The Netherlands , 2006 .

[68]  Hans-Peter Bader,et al.  Modelling cadmium flows in Australia on the basis of a substance flow analysis , 2007 .

[69]  I. Daigo,et al.  Substance flow analysis of chromium and nickel in the material flow of stainless steel in Japan , 2010 .

[70]  LU Gen-fa.  Relationship between resources use and economic growth in Fujian Province:an ARDL approach. , 2011 .

[71]  Thomas P. Seager,et al.  A taxonomy of metrics for testing the industrial ecology hypotheses and application to design of freezer insulation , 2004 .

[72]  Jan Kovanda,et al.  Analysis of regional material flows : The case of the Czech Republic , 2009 .

[73]  Wang Zhihong,et al.  Design and Development of Material Life Cycle Assessment Software System , 2009 .

[74]  Xueyi Guo,et al.  Substance flow analysis of zinc in China , 2010 .

[75]  R. Heijungs,et al.  Material flows and economic models: an analytical comparison of SFA, LCA and partial equilibrium models , 2000 .

[76]  Gjalt Huppes,et al.  Evaluation of risks of metal flows and accumulation in economy and environment , 1999 .

[77]  Michael D. Fenton.  Iron and steel recycling in the United States in 1998 , 2001 .

[78]  I. Daigo,et al.  Outlook of the world steel cycle based on the stock and flow dynamics. , 2010, Environmental science & technology.

[79]  Stefan Giljum,et al.  A comprehensive set of resource use indicators from the micro to the macro level , 2011 .

[80]  Sora Lee,et al.  Dynamic and multidimensional measurement of product-service system (PSS) sustainability: a triple bottom line (TBL)-based system dynamics approach , 2012 .

[81]  Ming-Lung Hung,et al.  A systemic health risk assessment for the chromium cycle in Taiwan. , 2007, Environment international.

[82]  Roland W. Scholz,et al.  Material and money flows as a means for industry analysis of recycling schemes A case study of regional bio-waste management , 2006 .

[83]  Yoshihiro Adachi,et al.  Assessment of the Recycling Potential of Aluminum in Japan, the United States, Europe and China , 2008 .

[84]  Stephen Dovers,et al.  Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Urban Settlements: Lessons from Five Australian Cases , 2011 .

[85]  Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh,et al.  Constructing physical input-output tables for environmental modeling and accounting: Framework and illustrations , 2006 .

[86]  Helmut Rechberger,et al.  Practical handbook of material flow analysis , 2003 .

[87]  S. Carpenter,et al.  Global Consequences of Land Use , 2005, Science.

[88]  Jan Kovanda,et al.  Assessing Socioeconomic Metabolism Through Hybrid Life Cycle Assessment , 2009 .

[89]  Zhu Xiao.  Material flow analysis of Xiamen City's eco-economic system , 2009 .

[90]  Rachel Woodward,et al.  Cement and concrete flow analysis in a rapidly expanding economy: Ireland as a case study , 2011 .

[91]  Dennis Owen.  United Nations: World Summit on sustainable development — Johannesburg South Africa 26 August to 24 September 2002 [Report A/Conf 199/20 (as re-issued)] , 2004 .

[92]  T C Chang,et al.  A material flow of lithium batteries in Taiwan. , 2009, Journal of hazardous materials.

[93]  Bernadette O’Regan,et al.  Material flow accounting in an Irish city-region 1992–2002 , 2011 .

[94]  Peter Michaelis,et al.  Material and energy flow through the UK iron and steel sector , 2000 .

[95]  Michelle Graymore,et al.  Significance of environment in the assessment of sustainable development : the case for South West Victoria , 2011 .

[96]  Won Il Ko,et al.  Comparative study of different nuclear fuel cycle options: Quantitative analysis on material flow , 2011 .

[97]  Paulo Ferrão,et al.  A Comparison Between Conventional LCA and Hybrid EIO-LCA: Analyzing Crystal Giftware Contribution to Global Warming Potential , 2009 .

[98]  Bedřich Moldan,et al.  Sustainability indicators : a scientific assessment , 2007 .

[99]  Huang Chu-long,et al.  Indicators System for Sustainability Assessment of Water Resources Use in China , 2006 .

[100]  Xavier Gabarrell,et al.  Material flow analysis adapted to an industrial area , 2007 .

[101]  James D. Ford,et al.  Climate change adaptation in developed nations : from theory to practice , 2011 .

[102]  Mireille Faist,et al.  Economically extended—MFA: a material flow approach for a better understanding of food production chain , 2004 .

[103]  Claudia R. Binder,et al.  From material flow analysis to material flow management Part I: social sciences modeling approaches coupled to MFA , 2007 .

[104]  Cai Jiuju.  Construction and Application of Water Flow Chart in Coking Process , 2010 .