Assessment of anthropogenic material flows in a circular economy -A case study on zinc used in the construction sector
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Publicerad
2020
Författare
Persson, Lovisa
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
In the transition to a circular economy, an increased understanding regarding anthropogenic
material flows is required in order to advocate towards a sustainable
management of materials. The construction sector consumes about one third of
all material resources, while generating the largest waste stream in the European
Union - thus having a high potential for circularity. The aims of this study are
to 1/evaluate the availability of data of anthropogenic flows of zinc in Sweden - a
metal of both societal and environmental relevance due to its scale of use, as well
as to 2/analyze the assessment to support a transition to a circular economy - with
focus on the construction sector. Anthropogenic mass flows of zinc were estimated
using Material Flow Analysis along with a review of the literature on assessment
of circular economy. This study shows that current data regarding waste flows are
not sufficient to estimate flows to waste management and recycling on an elemental
level due to low level of detail for aggregated waste flows. Therefore, a complete
Material Flow Analysis could not be done. Furthermore, a large focus is being put
on waste flows and waste management, i.e. higher recycling rates and an increasing
use of secondary raw materials, however with low attention paid to the qualitative
aspects of recycling. The understanding, quantification and estimation of anthropogenic
flows of materials through the economy provides an important knowledge
base when deciding on measures and policy instruments related to circular economy.
Recycling is important to reduce the demand for virgin raw materials. However, the
initial material and energy resources used to build a construction are for the most
part lost through recycling - a transition to a circular economy, therefore requires
measures beyond efficient recycling.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
circular economy, resource efficiency, material flow analysis, zinc, construction sector, reuse, recycling.