Improve Material Efficiency Research Articles

From waste prevention to promotion of material efficiency: change of discourse in the waste policy of Finland

This article analyses the process of preparing the proposal for a new Finnish National Waste Plan (NWP 2007–2016). The focus of this study is on the use of the alternative concepts of waste prevention or material efficiency and on the shift in discourse from the former to the latter concept. The strengths and weaknesses of these competing concepts were analysed using criteria such as synergy, semantic aspects, legal context and applicability to monitoring. The discourse presented by different stakeholder groups was analysed. The implications of choosing either of the concepts were illustrated. The author concludes that waste prevention can be promoted just as well, or even better from the perspective of improving material efficiency. The concept must be complemented by policy instruments within the chemical policy sector to cover the aspect of qualitative waste prevention.

Business models for material efficiency services: Conceptualization and application

Despite the abundant research on material flows and the growing recognition of the need to dematerialize the economy, business enterprises are still not making the best possible use of the many opportunities for material efficiency improvements. This article proposes one possible solution: material efficiency services provided by outside suppliers. It also introduces a conceptual framework for the analysis of different business models for eco-efficient services and applies the framework to material efficiency services. Four business models are outlined and their feasibility is studied from an empirical vantage point. In contrast to much of the previous research, special emphasis is laid on the financial aspects. It appears that the most promising business models are ‘material efficiency as additional service’ and ‘material flow management service’. Depending on the business model, prominent material efficiency service providers differ from large companies that offer multiple products and/or services to smaller, specialized providers. Potential clients (users) typically lack the resources (expertise, management's time or initial funds) to conduct material efficiency improvements themselves. Customers are more likely to use material efficiency services that relate to support materials or side-streams rather than those that are at the core of production. Potential client organizations with a strategy of outsourcing support activities and with experience of outsourcing are more keen to use material efficiency services.

R&D and Innovation Policy — Preconditions for Making Steps towards a 2000 WATT/CAP Society

The paper reports on the methodology and results of several studies on the long-term efficiency potentials in the two energy transformation steps from primary energy to final and useful energy and, more importantly, from useful energy to energy services. The examination of these potentials considers the lifetimes and periods of refurbishment of manufactured artefacts: Buildings and infrastructure that will save or waste energy in 2050 that are being built or restored today. The paper emphasises the enormous size of energy conservation potentials achievable not only by reducing energy losses but also by decreasing the specific activity levels for several energy services through improved material efficiency and intensified use of products, plants, and vehicles. It also reports on major definitive conclusions on R&D needs and challenges to R&D-policies as well as immediate policy action in OECD-countries in order to realise the vision of reducing primary energy use per capita by two thirds in industrialised countries within the next five decades.

Simulation of roller compaction using a laboratory scale compaction simulator

A method for simulation of the roller compaction process using a laboratory scale compaction simulator was developed. The simulation was evaluated using microcrystalline cellulose as model material and ribbon solid fraction and tensile strength as key ribbon properties. When compacted to the same solid fractions, real and simulated ribbons exhibited similar compression behavior and equivalent mechanical properties (tensile strengths). Thus, simulated and real ribbons are expected to result in equivalent granulations. Although the simulation cannot account for some roller compaction aspects (non-homogeneous ribbon density and material bypass) it enables prediction of the effects that critical parameters such as roll speed, pressure and radius have on the properties of ribbons using a fraction of material required by conventional roller compaction equipment. Furthermore, constant ribbon solid fraction and/or tensile strength may be utilized as scale up and transfer factors for the roller compaction process. The improved material efficiency and product transfer methods could enable formulation of tablet dosage forms earlier in drug product development.

Wrapping Up Greenhouse Gas Emissions An Assessment of GHG Emission Reduction Related to Efficient Packaging Use: An Assessment of GHG Emission Reduction Related to Efficient Packaging Use

SummaryThe use of packaging materials results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through production and transport of materials and packaging and through end‐of‐life management. In this article, we investigate the potential reduction of GHGs that are related to packaging. For this purpose, we use the dynamic MATTER‐MARKAL model in which the western European energy and materials system is modeled. The results show that GHGs related to packaging can technically be reduced by up to 58% in the period 1995–2030. Current European packaging directives will result in a 10% emission reduction. Cost‐effective improved material management 1 that includes lightweighting, reusable packages, material recycling, and related strategies can contribute a 22% GHG emission reduction. An additional 13% reduction becomes cost effective when a GHG emission penalty of 100 euros per metric ton 2 (EUR/ton) is introduced (1 EUR 0.9 USD). Generally speaking, improved material management dominates the gains that can be achieved without a penalty or with low GHG emission penalties (up to 100 EUR/ton CO2 equivalent). By contrast, the reduction of emissions in materials production and waste handling dominate when high GHG penalties are applied (between 100 and 500 EUR/ton CO2 equivalent). Given the significant technical potential and the low costs, more attention should be paid to material efficiency improvement in GHG emission reduction strategies.

Efficient use of energy and materials: progress and policies

There is a growing awareness of the serious problems associated with the provision of sufficient energy to meet human needs and to fuel economic growth world‐wide. This has pointed to the need for energy and material efficiency, which would reduce air, water and thermal pollution, as well as waste production. Increasing energy and material efficiency also have the benefits of increased employment, improved balance of imports and exports, increased security of energy supply and adopting environmentally advantageous energy supply. A large potential exists for energy savings through energy and material efficiency improvements. Technologies are not now, nor will they be, in the foreseeable future, the limiting factors with regard to continuing energy efficiency improvements. There are serious barriers to energy efficiency improvements, including unwillingness to invest, lack of available and accessible information, economic disincentives and organizational barriers. A wide range of policy instruments, as well as innovative approaches have been tried in some countries in order to achieve the desired energy efficiency improvements. These include: regulation and guidelines; economic instruments and incentives; voluntary agreements and actions; information, education and training; and research, development and demonstration. An area that requires particular attention is that of improved international co‐operation to develop policy instruments and technologies to meet the needs of developing countries. Material efficiency has not received the attention that it deserves. Consequently, there is a dearth of data on the qualities and quantities of final consumption, thus, making it difficult to formulate policies. Available data, however, suggest that there is a large potential for improved use of many materials in industrialized countries.

MAXIMUM RESOURCE USAGE: AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING MATERIAL USE EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

Summary. Efficient use of materials is an important problem facing modern society. The need for sustainable resource management is becoming increasingly urgent, and reducing waste and increasing material efficiency are vital to achieving this goal. Material utilization efficiency (MUE) is a measure of the efficiency of the system of using material resources in production, consumption and disposal processes. The article discusses the importance of material efficiency in various industries, including manufacturing, construction, and energy. It explores the challenges and opportunities for improving material efficiency, such as the development of new materials, advanced manufacturing processes and the integration of circular economy principles. The article also examines different approaches to measuring material use efficiency, including life cycle assessment, efficiency analysis, and material flow analysis. It emphasizes the importance of metrics and indicators to evaluate material efficiency and guide decision-making processes. The resulting review identifies key factors influencing material use efficiency, including product design, process optimization, material selection, recycling and reuse strategies. Keywords: material usage efficiency (MUE), circular economy, production optimization

An approach for analysing the potential for material efficiency improvement

Material efficiency improvement saves energy and reduces the consumption of primary resources and reduces the volume of waste. In this article an approach for analysing the potential for material efficiency improvement is proposed and discussed. In this approach the product functions performed by the materials and various improvement measures are taken into account. The potential for material saving and associated energy saving is assessed and evaluated economically. In this paper the approach is tested in an analysis of the potential for material efficiency improvement with respect to plastic packaging in the Netherlands. The technical reduction potential is found to be 34 ± 7% (157 ± 30 ktonne virgin plastics). Realization of this potential would improve the energy efficiency of the lifecycle of plastic packaging by 31% (10 PJ in 1988). From our study we conclude that our approach can indeed be used to investigate the potential for material efficiency improvement. However, a reliable technical and particularly an economical assessment of reduction measures cannot be made until more detailed data become available.

Solid material evaporation into an electron cyclotron resonance source by laser ablation

In an effort to explore new methods of producing ion beams from solid materials, a laser-ablation technique for evaporating materials directly into an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source plasma was developed. A pulsed NdYaG laser with approximately 25 W average power and peak power density on the order of 107 W/cm2 has been used off-line to measure ablation rates of various materials as a function of peak laser power. The benefits anticipated from the successful demonstration of this technique include the ability to use very small quantities of materials efficiently, improved material efficiency of incorporation into the ECR plasma, and decoupling of the material evaporation process from the ECR source tuning operation. The results of these tests are reported herein and the design is described for incorporating such a system directly with the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System Positive Ion Injector ECR (ATLAS PII-ECR) ion source.