Uniting Materials Security with LCA
A wider view on adding value to sustainability
Dr Adrian Chapman
Oakdene Hollins
14th November 2012 JRC Workshop, Ranco
Oakdene Hollins - Materials Security • Critical Raw Material Flows in the UK Economy (focussing on
EEE) (WRAP & Defra (UK), on-going)
• Critical metals in Strategic Energy Technologies - with Fraunhofer ISI and HCSS (JRC IET, 2011 & on-going)
• Study on by-product metals (International Lead & Zinc, Copper and Nickel Study Groups, 2012)
• Expert Review of Material Criticality Studies (Private client, 2011)
• Study into the feasibility of protecting and recovering critical raw materials (European Pathway to Zero Waste, 2011)
• Lanthanides resources and alternatives (UK Departments for Transport & Business, Innovation & Skills 2010)
(Reports available from www.oakdenehollins.eu)
Materials Security and LCA
Materials Security Analysis
Lifecycle Assessment
Sustainability
?
Avoid “square peg in round hole” response
Criticality is Context Dependant
Sources: KITECH, GEC, EU RMI, EC JRC IET
Region
Company
Technology
2-Axis Criticality Matrix
Source: US DoE
Data collection and
dissemination
Resource efficiency strategies
Primary production
Trade and international co-operation
Procurement and stockpiling
Responses to Materials Criticality
Source: Oakdene Hollins
Design and Innovation
Environmental Impact in Criticality Methodologies
EU Raw Materials Initiative, 2010 -
Environmental impact considered as part of analysis
LCA also investigated • Quality and availability of data an issue • Cradle-to-grave approach suggested • Too involved to model for this project
Graedel et al, 2011 • Environmental Implications 1 of 3
measures • LCA factors include cradle-to-gate
(materials), 2 factors • Flexible approach to what is included in
assessment
JRC data on materials impacts
Source: JRC, IES
LCA & Criticality
Impact vs Risk
Supply Chain vs Single Step
Most appropriate use of LCA?
– Criticality assessment? • Facilitate prioritisation
• Identify hotspots
• Increased production, changing ore grades, by-production, climatic risks on security of supply and prices of materials
– Comparator between critical materials? • Trade-off between environmental benefits
• Compare lifecycle stages and uses
– Evaluating mitigation strategies? • Substitution - role of system, component or material
• Higher production impact vs lower use phase
E.g. critical materials flow in Solar Panels in the UK, 2011
Source: Oakdene Hollins
Product lifetime view with materials flow instead of focus on specific material
LCA thinking and supply chain risk
Move away from single issue risk analysis to wider supply chain risk
Product Supply Chain Profile
Production Product End of Life Manufacturing Refining
Criticality
Simple Supply Chain Profile
Mining Refining Manufacturing Product End of Life
Static, small number of large players
Criticality typically refers to mining
Largest risks associated with mining?
Supply Chain Profile of Textile Based Product
Cultivation Production Manufacturing Product End of Life
Large number of smaller sites Rapidly changing
Criticality yet to be fully defined
Largest risks…? Can “impact” be quantified?
LCA thinking and supply chain risk
• Product based – “Functional Unit” • System boundaries • Hot spots • Indicators • ….
Move away from “single issue risk” to wider supply chain risk
Utilise LCA thinking?