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Background Global targets for reducing resource use have been set by organizations such as the International Resource Panel and the European Commission. However, these targets exist only at the macro level, e.g., for individual countries. When conducting an environmental analysis at the micro level, resource use is often neglected as an indicator. No sum parameter indicating all abiotic and biotic raw materials has been considered for life cycle assessment, as yet. In fact, life cycle assessment databases even lack some of the specific input flows required to calculate all abiotic and biotic raw materials. In contrast, the cumulative energy demand, an input-based indicator assessing the use of energy resources, is commonly used, particularly when analyzing energy-intensive product systems. Methods In view of this, we analyze the environmental relevance of the sum parameter abiotic and biotic raw material demand, which we call the material footprint. First, we show how abiotic and biotic raw material demand can be implemented in the Ecoinvent life cycle assessment database. Employing the adapted database, the material footprint is calculated for 12 individual datasets of chosen materials and crops. The results are compared to those of the cumulated energy demand and four selected impact categories: climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, and terrestrial eutrophication. Results The material footprint is generally high in the case of extracted metals and other materials where extraction is associated with a large amount of overburden. This fact can lead to different conclusions being drawn compared to common impact categories or the cumulative energy demand. However, the results show that both the range between the impacts of the different materials and the trends can be similar. Conclusions The material footprint is very easy to apply and calculate. It can be implemented in life cycle assessment databases with a few adaptions. Furthermore, an initial comparison with common impact indicators suggests that the material footprint can be used as an input-based indicator to evaluate the environmental burden, without the uncertainty associated with the assessment of emission-based impacts.
Klaus Wiesen; Monika Wirges. From cumulated energy demand to cumulated raw material demand: the material footprint as a sum parameter in life cycle assessment. Energy, Sustainability and Society 2017, 7, 13 .
AMA StyleKlaus Wiesen, Monika Wirges. From cumulated energy demand to cumulated raw material demand: the material footprint as a sum parameter in life cycle assessment. Energy, Sustainability and Society. 2017; 7 (1):13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKlaus Wiesen; Monika Wirges. 2017. "From cumulated energy demand to cumulated raw material demand: the material footprint as a sum parameter in life cycle assessment." Energy, Sustainability and Society 7, no. 1: 13.
Melanie Lukas; Holger Rohn; Michael Lettenmeier; Christa Liedtke; Klaus Wiesen. The nutritional footprint – integrated methodology using environmental and health indicators to indicate potential for absolute reduction of natural resource use in the field of food and nutrition. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 132, 161 -170.
AMA StyleMelanie Lukas, Holger Rohn, Michael Lettenmeier, Christa Liedtke, Klaus Wiesen. The nutritional footprint – integrated methodology using environmental and health indicators to indicate potential for absolute reduction of natural resource use in the field of food and nutrition. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2016; 132 ():161-170.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMelanie Lukas; Holger Rohn; Michael Lettenmeier; Christa Liedtke; Klaus Wiesen. 2016. "The nutritional footprint – integrated methodology using environmental and health indicators to indicate potential for absolute reduction of natural resource use in the field of food and nutrition." Journal of Cleaner Production 132, no. : 161-170.
The concept Material Input per Service Unit (MIPS) was developed 20 years ago as a measure for the overall natural resource use of products and services. The material intensity analysis is used to calculate the material footprint of any economic activities in production and consumption. Environmental assessment has developed extensive databases for life cycle inventories, which can additionally be adopted for material intensity analysis. Based on practical experience in measuring material footprints on the micro level, this paper presents the current state of research and methodology development: it shows the international discussions on the importance of accounting methodologies to measure progress in resource efficiency. The MIPS approach is presented and its micro level application for assessing value chains, supporting business management, and operationalizing sustainability strategies is discussed. Linkages to output-oriented Life Cycle Assessment as well as to Material Flow Analysis (MFA) at the macro level are pointed out. Finally we come to the conclusion that the MIPS approach provides relevant knowledge on resource and energy input at the micro level for fact-based decision-making in science, policy, business, and consumption.
Christa Liedtke; Katrin Bienge; Klaus Wiesen; Jens Teubler; Kathrin Greiff; Michael Lettenmeier; Holger Rohn. Resource Use in the Production and Consumption System—The MIPS Approach. Resources 2014, 3, 544 -574.
AMA StyleChrista Liedtke, Katrin Bienge, Klaus Wiesen, Jens Teubler, Kathrin Greiff, Michael Lettenmeier, Holger Rohn. Resource Use in the Production and Consumption System—The MIPS Approach. Resources. 2014; 3 (3):544-574.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChrista Liedtke; Katrin Bienge; Klaus Wiesen; Jens Teubler; Kathrin Greiff; Michael Lettenmeier; Holger Rohn. 2014. "Resource Use in the Production and Consumption System—The MIPS Approach." Resources 3, no. 3: 544-574.
Holger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. Publisher note to “Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies” [Science of the Total Environment 473–474 (2014) 32–35]. Science of The Total Environment 2014, 481, 644 .
AMA StyleHolger Rohn, Nico Pastewski, Michael Lettenmeier, Klaus Wiesen, Katrin Bienge. Publisher note to “Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies” [Science of the Total Environment 473–474 (2014) 32–35]. Science of The Total Environment. 2014; 481 ():644.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHolger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. 2014. "Publisher note to “Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies” [Science of the Total Environment 473–474 (2014) 32–35]." Science of The Total Environment 481, no. : 644.
Despite rising prices for natural resources during the past 30 years, global consumption of natural resources is still growing. This leads to ecological, economical and social problems. So far, however, limited effort has been made to decrease the natural resource use of goods and services. While resource efficiency is already on the political agenda (EU and national resource strategies), there are still substantial knowledge gaps on the effectiveness of resource efficiency improvement strategies in different fields. In this context and within the project "Material Efficiency and Resource Conservation", the natural resource use of 22 technologies, products and strategies was calculated and their resource efficiency potential analysed. In a preliminary literature- and expert-based identification process, over 250 technologies, strategies, and products, which are regarded as resource efficient, were identified. Out of these, 22 subjects with high resource efficiency potential were selected. They cover a wide range of relevant technologies, products and strategies, such as energy supply and storage, Green IT, transportation, foodstuffs, agricultural engineering, design strategies, lightweight construction, as well as the concept "Using Instead of Owning". To assess the life-cycle-wide resource use of the selected subjects, the material footprint has been applied as a reliable indicator. In addition, sustainability criteria on a qualitative basis were considered. The results presented in this paper show significant resource efficiency potential for many technologies, products and strategies.
Holger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies. Science of The Total Environment 2014, 473-474, 32 -35.
AMA StyleHolger Rohn, Nico Pastewski, Michael Lettenmeier, Klaus Wiesen, Katrin Bienge. Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies. Science of The Total Environment. 2014; 473-474 ():32-35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHolger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. 2014. "Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies." Science of The Total Environment 473-474, no. : 32-35.
The German government aims to obtain at least 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. One of the central steps to reach this target is the construction of deep sea offshore wind farms. The paper presents a material intensity analysis of the offshore wind farms “Alpha Ventus” and “Bard Offshore I” under consideration of the grid connection. An additional onshore scenario is considered for comparison. The results show that offshore wind farms have higher resource consumption than onshore farms. In general, and in respect to the resource use of other energy systems, both can be tagged as resource efficient.
Klaus Wiesen; Jens Teubler; Holger Rohn. Resource Use of Wind Farms in the German North Sea—The Example of Alpha Ventus and Bard Offshore I. Resources 2013, 2, 504 -516.
AMA StyleKlaus Wiesen, Jens Teubler, Holger Rohn. Resource Use of Wind Farms in the German North Sea—The Example of Alpha Ventus and Bard Offshore I. Resources. 2013; 2 (4):504-516.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKlaus Wiesen; Jens Teubler; Holger Rohn. 2013. "Resource Use of Wind Farms in the German North Sea—The Example of Alpha Ventus and Bard Offshore I." Resources 2, no. 4: 504-516.