Guido Sonnemann

What Do We Know About Metal Recycling Rates

The recycling of metals is widely viewed as a fruitful sustainability strategy, but little information is available on the degree to which recycling is actually taking place. This article provides an overview on the current knowledge of recycling rates for 60 metals. We propose various recycling metrics, discuss relevant aspects of recycling processes, and present current estimates on global end‐of‐life recycling rates (EOL‐RR; i.e., the percentage of a metal in discards that is actually recycled), recycled content (RC), and old scrap ratios (OSRs; i.e., the share of old scrap in the total scrap flow). Because of increases in metal use over time and long metal in‐use lifetimes, many RC values are low and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Because of relatively low efficiencies in the collection and processing of most discarded products, inherent limitations in recycling processes, and the fact that primary material is often relatively abundant and low‐cost (which thereby keeps down the price of scrap), many EOL‐RRs are very low: Only for 18 metals (silver, aluminum, gold, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, niobium, nickel, lead, palladium, platinum, rhenium, rhodium, tin, titanium, and zinc) is the EOL‐RR above 50% at present. Only for niobium, lead, and ruthenium is the RC above 50%, although 16 metals are in the 25% to 50% range. Thirteen metals have an OSR greater than 50%. These estimates may be used in considerations of whether recycling efficiencies can be improved; which metric could best encourage improved effectiveness in recycling; and an improved understanding of the dependence of recycling on economics, technology, and other factors.

Managing sustainability performance through the value‐chain

Purpose – Environmental management has not kept pace with the challenges of globalization. Case studies show that life‐cycle management (LCM) can be an important alternative approach in managing sustainability, performance of products and materials along the value‐chain.Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyzes case study models for LCM used in different circumstances. It compares the new forms of governance along the life‐chain, and the coordination of environmental management tools already in widespread use. Strengths and weaknesses are discussed with respect to other CSR methods in current use. The role of life‐cycle assessment (LCA) in prioritizing sustainability issues is highlighted.Findings – Business focuses on supply‐chain management to achieve its sustainability goals. Governments give emphasis to communication rather than legislation. Community and NGO pressure on the commodity resource sector has led to important multi‐stakeholder life‐cycle‐management. These approaches are most effecti...

ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ESTIMATIONS IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS CHAINS

Tesi doctoral de Guido W. Sonnemann, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2002 Environmental Damage Estimations in Industrial Process Chains Methodology development with a case study on waste incineration and a special focus on human health Resum (600 paraules) Les estimacions de danys ambientals en cadenes de processos necessiten lavaluacio dimpactes ambientals en dues perspectives: orientades cap a cadenes de processos i orientades localment. Per a ambdues perspectives shan desenvolupat eines especifiques davaluacio: lAvaluacio del Cicle de Vida (ACV o LCA) i lAvaluacio del Risc Ambiental (ERA). LACV es una eina, bastant nova, orientada cap a cadenes de processos, per avaluar el perfil ambiental dels productes, enfocada cap al cicle de vida complet daquests. A la fase de lAvaluacio de lImpacte del Cicle de Vida (LCIA) savaluen els resultats del Inventari del Cicle de Vida (LCI) dun sistema de producte, per entendre millor el seu significat ambiental. LERA es una eina per avaluar el risc de substancies quimiques especifiques. A lanalisi dexposicio, savalua el risc dun proces en un lloc concret. LAnalisi de Vies dImpacte (IPA) es un metode semblant que sha desenvolupat per a lavaluacio dels danys ambientals en termes de parametres dimpactes fisics, com per exemple els casos de cancer. A lIPA normalment aquests parametres es converteixen en costs externs. No obstant aixo, els individus podrien preferir altres esquemes de valoracio. Els productes es fabriquen en una cadena ramificada de processos. Existeixen metodes especifics per a lavaluacio ambiental de productes que no shaurien demprar directement per a lavaluacio dun numero de processos industrials amb una unitat funcional comuna, ja que el nivell de sofisticacio en lavaluacio pot ser mes elevat per a cadenes de processos industrials amb un numero limitat de processos inclosos que per a productes complexos. Shan realitzat pocs esforcos, per explorar sistematicament les incerteses inherents, interfases i tipus de possibilitats dintegracio i comunicacio dels metodes davaluacio ambientals citats, orientats per un costat a cadenes de processos i per laltre els orientats localment, en el cas de cadenes de processos industrials. Per aixo lobjectiu daquesta tesi, es trobar un compromis adequat entre els metodes davaluacio dimpacte ambiental, orientats a cadenes de processos i els orientats localment i, convertir les estimacions de danys ambientals en resultats significatius, com els costs ambientals. La tesi ofereix un algoritme matematic i un esquema que permet la diferenciacio espaial a diferents nivells de detall i proposa una integracio de lACV, lIPA i els costs ambientals. La metodologia establerta Estimacions de Danys Ambientals per a Cadenes de Processos Industrials posa els punts mitjos i els punts finals en un marc comu. Saplica i se segueix desenvolupant un metode per a lavaluacio dimpactes depenents del lloc com una manera per aconseguir un compromis entre les avaluacions del dany especific de lloc i els indicadors potencials del cicle de vida. El metode utilitza classes generiques dimpacte que corresponen a diverses distribucions de receptors i condicions de dispersio basades en un raonament estadistic. Una part del desenvolupament de la metodologia consisteix en lanalisi de les incerteses en el LCI i lIPA per la simulacio de Monte Carlo. Aquesta aplicacio paral.lela permet mostrar que les incerteses de linventari son menys importants que les dels danys. Els metodes presentats i la metodologia desenvolupada shan aplicat amb exit per diferents camins al cas practic dincineracio de residus i, especialment, al seu impacte sobre la salut humana. La comparacio dels resultats derivats, mitjancant indicadors dimpacte de punt final, amb els obtinguts per a lindicador de punt mitja, indica que per la situacio del cas practic lindicador de punt mitja desestima limpacte ambiental dels processos de transport. Sha establert la base per a la creacio duna nova generacio de models de gestio integrada de residus que inclou loptimitzacio de la ubicacio de plantes de tractament de residus i de la difusio de les rutes de transports corresponents. RESUMEN Tesis doctoral de Guido W. Sonnemann, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2002 Environmental Damage Estimations in Industrial Process Chains Methodology development with a case study on waste incineration and a special focus on human health Resumen (600 palabras) Las estimaciones de danos ambientales en cadenas de procesos necesitan la evaluacion de impactos ambientales en dos perspectivas: orientadas hacia cadenas de procesos y orientadas localmente. Para las dos perspectivas se han desarrollado herramientas especificas de evaluacion: el Analisis del Ciclo de Vida (ACV o LCA) y la Evaluacion del Riesgo Ambiental (ERA). El ACV es una herramienta, bastante nueva, orientada hacia cadenas de procesos, para evaluar el perfil ambiental de los productos, enfocada hacia el ciclo de vida completo de estos. En la fase de la Evaluacion del Impacto del Ciclo de Vida (LCIA) se evaluan los resultados del Inventario del Ciclo de Vida (LCI) de un sistema de producto, para entender mejor su significado ambiental. La ERA es una herramienta para evaluar el riesgo de substancias quimicas especificas. En el analisis de exposicion, se evalua el riesgo de un proceso en un lugar concreto. El Analisis de Vias de Impacto (IPA) es un metodo similar que se ha desarrollado para la evaluacion de los danos ambientales en forma de parametros de impactos fisicos, como casos de cancer. En el IPA normalmente estos parametros estan convertidos en costes externos. Los productos se fabrican en una cadena ramificada de procesos. Existen metodos especificos para la evaluacion ambiental de productos que no se deberian aplicar directamente para la evaluacion de un numero de procesos industriales con una unidad funcional comuna, ya que el nivel de sofisticacion en la evaluacion puede ser mas elevado para cadenas de procesos industriales con un numero limitado de procesos incluidos que para productos complejos. Se han realizado pocos esfuerzos, para explorar sistematicamente las incertidumbres inherentes y los tipos de posibilidades de integracion y comunicacion de los metodos de evaluacion ambiental citados, orientados de un lado a cadenas de procesos y del otro lado orientados localmente, en el caso de cadenas de procesos industriales. Por eso el objetivo de esta tesis, es: encontrar un compromiso adecuado entre los metodos de evaluacion de impacto ambiental, orientados a cadenas de procesos y los orientados localmente y, convertir las estimaciones de danos ambientales en resultados significativos, como los costes ambientales. La tesis ofrece un algoritmo matematico y un esquema que permite la diferenciacion espacial a diferentes niveles de detalle y propone una integracion del ACV, IPA y costes ambientales. La metodologia establecida Estimaciones de Danos Ambientales para Cadenas de Procesos Industriales pone los puntos medios y los puntos finales en un marco comun. Se continua el desarrollo de un metodo para la evaluacion de impactos dependientes del lugar como una manera para conseguir un compromiso entre les evaluaciones del dano especifico de lugar y los indicadores potenciales del ciclo de vida. El metodo utiliza clases genericas de impacto que corresponden a diversas distribuciones de receptores y condiciones de dispersion basadas en un razonamiento estadistico. Como parte del desarrollo de metodologia, se analizan las incertidumbres en el LCI y IPA mediante la simulacion de Monte Carlo. Los metodos presentados y la metodologia desarrollada se han aplicado con exito por diferentes caminos al caso practico de incineracion de residuos y especialmente a su impacto sobre la salud humana. La comparacion de los resultados derivados mediante indicadores de impacto de punto final con los obtenidos para el indicador de punto medio, indica que para la situacion del caso practico el indicador de punto medio desestima el impacto ambiental de los procesos de transporte. Se ha establecido la base para la creacion de una nueva generacion de modelos de gestion integrada de residuos que incluye la optimizacion de la ubicacion de plantas de tratamiento y de las rutas de transportes correspondientes.

Geographical and technological differences in Life Cycle Inventories shown by the use of process models for waste incinerators

Goal and BackgroundGeographical and technological differences in Life Cycle Inventory data are an important source for uncertainty in the result of Life Cycle Assessments. Knowledge on their impact on the result of an LCA is scarce, and also knowledge on how to manage them in an LCA case study.ObjectiveGoal of this paper is to explore these differences for municipal solid waste incinerator plants, and to develop recommendations for managing technological and geographical differences.MethodologyThe paper provides a definition of technological and geographical differences, and analyses their possible impacts. In a case study, the differences are caused intentionally in ‘games’, by virtually transplanting incineration plants to a different location and by changing parameters such as the composition of the waste input incinerated. The games are performed by using a modular model for municipal solid waste incinerator plants. In each case, an LCA including an Impact Assessment is calculated to trace the impact of these changes, and the results are compared.ConclusionsThe conclusions of the paper are two-fold: (1) reduce the differences in inventory data where their impact on the result is high; where it is possible reducing them to a great extent, and the effort for performing the change acceptable; in the case of incineration plants: Adapt the flue gas treatment, especially a possible DeNOx step, to the real conditions; (2) make use of modular process models that allow adapting plant parameters to better meet real conditions, but be aware of possible modelling errors. We invite the scientific community to validate the model used for a waste incinerator plant, and suggest putting up similar models for other processes, preferably those of similar relevance for Life Cycle Inventories.

Addressing Sustainability Issues Through Enhanced Supply-Chain Management

A search on Google for ‘sustainable Supply-Chain Management’ (SCM) gives 15 000 000 results. ‘Green supply-chain management’ has even more. Both topics are addressed in numerous international and national publications. Already in 2001 the Sigma Report from the UK examined the fundamentals of sustainable supply-chain management and the challenges for its further expansion1. The UN secretariat explored the issues further in its report on “Industrial Development for the 21st century”2. A report by the World Bank discussed the situation of suppliers in developing countries3. The UN Global Compact4 has prepared a ‘tool kit’ for corporations to facilitate the application of sustainable SCM. Many publications of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development stress the importance of sustainable supply chains in developing forward-looking corporate strategies. Business journals regularly feature articles on SCM and its relationship to corporate social responsibility (CSR). After a decade of promotion and producing motivational material on sustainable supply chain management, it is now opportune to review the state of its application. And as the sustainability agenda is not standing still we should also discuss how supply chain management links to new thinking behind the concepts of value-chains, life-cycle management, sustainable consumption, and corporate social responsibility. We outline some factors that would assist SCM in contributing to the sustainability agenda. In particular a more holistic framework for sustainable SCM will be needed in future, in the same way that environmental management systems arose to overcome the earlier fragmented approach to solving pollution problems. Why should SCM consider issues of sustainability? Quite simply because many of the challenges faced by companies have their genesis in the operating practices of subcontractors and suppliers, whether this relates to chemical content, labour practices, or impact on communities and habitats. And the political agenda has moved on; it is no longer accepted that we blame someone upstream for deficiencies in the products we put on the market, nor for the environmental impacts may they have caused there. By building