USE duurzaamheid - Hoofdstuk 1 – introduction analysis methods
Brundtland definition of sustainability
‘a process of change in which the use of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and
institutional change must all be in harmony with each other and increase all present and future possibilities to meet human needs
and desires’.
The increase in present possibilities to meet human needs and desires should take place here, but certainly also (or mainly) in
Third World countries (here-there, place dimension). The increase in future possibilities to meet human needs and desires puts
emphasis on our responsibility for the future generations to come (now-then, time dimension)
People, Planet, Profit (PPP)
People, planet, profit (people, planet, profit) = Also known as 'triple
bottom line', 'triple p approach' or 'value based business'.
'People' refers to a companies' social responsibility, 'Planet' to its
environmental responsibility and 'Profit' to the economic responsibility.
‘People’ refers to the social responsibility of a company, with a focus
on social-ethical themes. How does the company treat its employees
and how does it perform in the field of social cohesion (in society in a
broader context)? Important themes are: human rights, bribing and
fraud, child labour, man-woman ratio, diversity and discrimination,
workers participation and code of conduct.
‘Planet’ refers to the environmental responsibility of a company. Does the company take up its responsibility concerning the load on
the environment, nature and the scenery? Environmental care, chain management, eco-efficiency, cleaner production,
development of sustainable technology, sustainable industrial estates and eco-design are examples of relevant themes.
‘Profit’ refers to the economic responsibility of a company. It does not only include pure financial performance (profit, turnover, etc.).
It also includes economic themes like employment, investments in infrastructure and outsourcing.
Several completely different viewpoints on the relation between
the three P's are possible. Two of them are shown in the figure.
In the figure on the left hand side man and nature are seen as
separate identities that are connected to each other by the
economic system. Economy makes it possible for man to control
and use nature for its own benefit. According to authors this
world view is one of the essential underlying principles of
today’s problems. They call for adapting to a world view that
recognises the interconnectedness and interdependence of man
with nature.
More like the figure on the right hand side, which is an example
of a more holistic vision: man is seen as part of nature and
economy is seen as part of the value system of man's society.
Global warn concerns
Geophysical depletion, Dependency by region, Global warming, Environmental impact (smog)
(Smog = a combination of the words 'smoke' and 'fog'. A distinction is made between summer and winter smog. Both are local
forms of air pollution (disruption) that have negative impacts on the health of humans.)
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental impact assessment (milieu effect rapportage) = Assessment that is suited to judge decisions related to the
environmental impact of a building or activity on a specific location.
Environmental Audit
Audit (audit)= An objective, documented, periodic evaluation of the performance of an organisation or process or product, in the
fields of energy and the environment.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment = An evaluation of potential consequences to humans, wildlife, or the environment caused by a process, product,
or activity, and including both the likelihood and the effects of an event.
, Integrated Biodiversity Impact assessment System (IBIS)
Integrated Biodiversity Impact assessment System (IBIS) = Method to make it possible to compare the biodiversity impact of
different products through a score; indicate whether the impact is acceptable; and assess the main issues.
USE duurzaamheid - Hoofdstuk 2 – material flow analysis
material flow analysis
Material flow analysis (MFA) = A physical and mathematical method to qualify and quantify metabolisms of anthropogenic systems
as well as of ecosystems.
“a material flow analysis is a systematic inventory or assessment of the flows and stocks of a chemical element, a compound or a
material within a system defined in space and time”
(focus on natural and/or the economic cycle) (in general based on the principle of physical balance (conservation)
balancing / conservation
Balance equation (behoudswet) = Input equals output plus accumulation
Σ input raw and auxiliary materials = Σ accumulation in system + Σ output products + Σ emissions and waste
material, substance vs goods
Material = Both substances and goods.
Substance = Single type of matter. Can refer to an element, a compound such as a molecule or a mineral, or less homogenous
compounds consisting of multiple molecules and sizes such as sand or gravel.
Good = Substances or mixtures of substances that have economic value assigned by markets.
source, sink, reservoir or stock
Source = A reservoir in the environment of a system from which flows are extracted. In environmental chemistry a place on planet
Earth where anthropogenic material flows are derived from, e.g. by mining and extraction.
Sink = A reservoir in the environment of a system that takes up the outgoing flows. In environmental chemistry a place on planet
Earth where anthropogenic substances (emissions, products of corrosion and weathering, wastes) are disposed of in the
environment, such as a lake or river, urban air, soil erosion, landfill or waste incinerator.
Reservoir = Subsystem with infinite capacity. More in general also used as synonym for stock, a process in which something can
accumulate.
Stock = Elements of the system. A store, a quantity or accumulation of material or information.
flow, process
Flow = Something that changes at a given rate. In material flow analysis the amount of mass that flows per time unit.
Process = Transport, transformation or storage of materials. Element of system, represented by a rectangle in a flow diagram.
direct vs indirect material flow, concentrated vs dissipative flows, elephants vs scorpions
Direct material flows = Materials actually embedded in the product, the weight of the product.
Indirect material flows = All material flows that have been required for manufacturing, the upstream material requirements.
Comprises both the used and unused materials.
Concentrated material use = Materials concentrated in products, infrastructure, solids or liquids. You can touch it, hold it, contain it.
Dissipative flows = Flow of materials from the anthroposhere to the environment in a way that makes it impossible to recover the
material by a finite amount of energy. For example if irretrievably dispersed when it is used, e.g. paint, fertilizer, lead in leaded
gasoline, wearing of tires, emissions.
Elephants: the material flows that are characterized by large amounts - that as such can present problems.
Scorpions: those materials that come at high impact even at low volume or concentration - like toxics and pesticides.
(complex) system
Brundtland definition of sustainability
‘a process of change in which the use of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and
institutional change must all be in harmony with each other and increase all present and future possibilities to meet human needs
and desires’.
The increase in present possibilities to meet human needs and desires should take place here, but certainly also (or mainly) in
Third World countries (here-there, place dimension). The increase in future possibilities to meet human needs and desires puts
emphasis on our responsibility for the future generations to come (now-then, time dimension)
People, Planet, Profit (PPP)
People, planet, profit (people, planet, profit) = Also known as 'triple
bottom line', 'triple p approach' or 'value based business'.
'People' refers to a companies' social responsibility, 'Planet' to its
environmental responsibility and 'Profit' to the economic responsibility.
‘People’ refers to the social responsibility of a company, with a focus
on social-ethical themes. How does the company treat its employees
and how does it perform in the field of social cohesion (in society in a
broader context)? Important themes are: human rights, bribing and
fraud, child labour, man-woman ratio, diversity and discrimination,
workers participation and code of conduct.
‘Planet’ refers to the environmental responsibility of a company. Does the company take up its responsibility concerning the load on
the environment, nature and the scenery? Environmental care, chain management, eco-efficiency, cleaner production,
development of sustainable technology, sustainable industrial estates and eco-design are examples of relevant themes.
‘Profit’ refers to the economic responsibility of a company. It does not only include pure financial performance (profit, turnover, etc.).
It also includes economic themes like employment, investments in infrastructure and outsourcing.
Several completely different viewpoints on the relation between
the three P's are possible. Two of them are shown in the figure.
In the figure on the left hand side man and nature are seen as
separate identities that are connected to each other by the
economic system. Economy makes it possible for man to control
and use nature for its own benefit. According to authors this
world view is one of the essential underlying principles of
today’s problems. They call for adapting to a world view that
recognises the interconnectedness and interdependence of man
with nature.
More like the figure on the right hand side, which is an example
of a more holistic vision: man is seen as part of nature and
economy is seen as part of the value system of man's society.
Global warn concerns
Geophysical depletion, Dependency by region, Global warming, Environmental impact (smog)
(Smog = a combination of the words 'smoke' and 'fog'. A distinction is made between summer and winter smog. Both are local
forms of air pollution (disruption) that have negative impacts on the health of humans.)
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental impact assessment (milieu effect rapportage) = Assessment that is suited to judge decisions related to the
environmental impact of a building or activity on a specific location.
Environmental Audit
Audit (audit)= An objective, documented, periodic evaluation of the performance of an organisation or process or product, in the
fields of energy and the environment.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment = An evaluation of potential consequences to humans, wildlife, or the environment caused by a process, product,
or activity, and including both the likelihood and the effects of an event.
, Integrated Biodiversity Impact assessment System (IBIS)
Integrated Biodiversity Impact assessment System (IBIS) = Method to make it possible to compare the biodiversity impact of
different products through a score; indicate whether the impact is acceptable; and assess the main issues.
USE duurzaamheid - Hoofdstuk 2 – material flow analysis
material flow analysis
Material flow analysis (MFA) = A physical and mathematical method to qualify and quantify metabolisms of anthropogenic systems
as well as of ecosystems.
“a material flow analysis is a systematic inventory or assessment of the flows and stocks of a chemical element, a compound or a
material within a system defined in space and time”
(focus on natural and/or the economic cycle) (in general based on the principle of physical balance (conservation)
balancing / conservation
Balance equation (behoudswet) = Input equals output plus accumulation
Σ input raw and auxiliary materials = Σ accumulation in system + Σ output products + Σ emissions and waste
material, substance vs goods
Material = Both substances and goods.
Substance = Single type of matter. Can refer to an element, a compound such as a molecule or a mineral, or less homogenous
compounds consisting of multiple molecules and sizes such as sand or gravel.
Good = Substances or mixtures of substances that have economic value assigned by markets.
source, sink, reservoir or stock
Source = A reservoir in the environment of a system from which flows are extracted. In environmental chemistry a place on planet
Earth where anthropogenic material flows are derived from, e.g. by mining and extraction.
Sink = A reservoir in the environment of a system that takes up the outgoing flows. In environmental chemistry a place on planet
Earth where anthropogenic substances (emissions, products of corrosion and weathering, wastes) are disposed of in the
environment, such as a lake or river, urban air, soil erosion, landfill or waste incinerator.
Reservoir = Subsystem with infinite capacity. More in general also used as synonym for stock, a process in which something can
accumulate.
Stock = Elements of the system. A store, a quantity or accumulation of material or information.
flow, process
Flow = Something that changes at a given rate. In material flow analysis the amount of mass that flows per time unit.
Process = Transport, transformation or storage of materials. Element of system, represented by a rectangle in a flow diagram.
direct vs indirect material flow, concentrated vs dissipative flows, elephants vs scorpions
Direct material flows = Materials actually embedded in the product, the weight of the product.
Indirect material flows = All material flows that have been required for manufacturing, the upstream material requirements.
Comprises both the used and unused materials.
Concentrated material use = Materials concentrated in products, infrastructure, solids or liquids. You can touch it, hold it, contain it.
Dissipative flows = Flow of materials from the anthroposhere to the environment in a way that makes it impossible to recover the
material by a finite amount of energy. For example if irretrievably dispersed when it is used, e.g. paint, fertilizer, lead in leaded
gasoline, wearing of tires, emissions.
Elephants: the material flows that are characterized by large amounts - that as such can present problems.
Scorpions: those materials that come at high impact even at low volume or concentration - like toxics and pesticides.
(complex) system
