Mapping supply chain risk by network analysis of product platforms

AbstractModern technology makes use of a variety of materials to allow for its proper functioning. To explore in detail the relationships connecting materials to the products that require them, we map supply chains for five product platforms (a cadmium telluride solar cell, a germanium solar cell, a turbine blade, a lead acid battery, and a hard drive (HD) magnet) using a data ontology that specifies the supply chain actors (nodes) and linkages (e.g., material exchange and contractual relationships) among them. We then propose a set of network indicators (product complexity, producer diversity, supply chain length, and potential bottlenecks) to assess the situation for each platform in the overall supply chain networks. Among the results of interest are the following: (1) the turbine blade displays a high product complexity, defined by the material linkages to the platform; (2) the germanium solar cell is produced by only a few manufacturers globally and requires more physical transformation steps than do the other project platforms; (3) including production quantity and sourcing countries in the assessment shows that a large portion of nodes of the supply chain of the hard-drive magnet are located in potentially unreliable countries. We conclude by discussing how the network analysis of supply chains could be combined with criticality and scenario analyses of abiotic raw materials to comprise a comprehensive picture of product platform risk

Implications of Emerging Vehicle Technologies on Rare Earth Supply and Demand in the United States

We explore the long-term demand and supply potentials of rare earth elements in alternative energy vehicles (AEVs) in the United States until 2050. Using a stock-flow model, we compare a baseline scenario with scenarios that incorporate an exemplary technological innovation: a novel aluminum–cerium–magnesium alloy. We find that the introduction of the novel alloy demonstrates that even low penetration rates can exceed domestic cerium production capacity, illustrating possible consequences of technological innovations to material supply and demand. End-of-life vehicles can, however, overtake domestic mining as a source of materials, calling for proper technologies and policies to utilize this emerging source. The long-term importing of critical materials in manufactured and semi-manufactured products shifts the location of material stocks and hence future secondary supply of high-value materials, culminating in a double benefit to the importing country. This modeling approach is adaptable to the study of varied scenarios and materials, linking technologies with supply and demand dynamics in order to understand their potential economic and environmental consequence

Industrial Ecology, Ed. 2nd/ Graedel

xix, 363 hal.; 23 c

A half-century of global phosphorus flows, stocks, production, consumption, recycling, and environmental impacts

Many contemporary aspects of the global phosphorus cycle have been evaluated over the last several years, but a comprehensive picture over time has not yet been provided. In this work, we generate a detailed quantitative picture of dynamic phosphorus stocks and flows, for both human and animal uses, from 1961 to 2013. During that half-century, total phosphorus consumption has increased fivefold, to 31 million metric tons (31 Tg). However, losses and diversions from extraction to final consumption result in only about 22% of the extracted phosphorus being actually consumed as human food. Agricultural practices have changed as well, with on-farm wastes yielding to manufactured fertilizers as the primary source of phosphorus. Non-food uses such as detergents and metal coatings were about five times larger in 2013 than in 1961, though they currently account for only about a quarter of all phosphorus use. Waste phosphorus flows to water, dominated by agricultural operations in 1961, have now been overtaken by loss from phosphate rock mining. Overall, the phosphorus cycle shows a history of inefficiency and loss, but also many opportunities for improvements that could lead to a much more sustainable situation going forward

Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Engineering

The first book of its kind devoted completely to industrial ecology/green engineering, this introduction uses industrial ecology principles and cases to ground the discussion of sustainable engineering–and offers practical and reasonable approaches to design decisions. KEY TOPICS: Technology and Sustainability; Industrial Ecology(IE) and Sustainable Engineering (SE) Concepts; Relevance of Biological Ecology to Technology; Metabolic Analysis; Technological Change and Evolving Risk; Social Dimensions of Industrial Ecology; Concept of Sustainability; SE; Industrial Product Development; Design for Environment and for Sustainability; Introduction to Life-Cycle Assessment; LCA Impact and Interpretation Stages; Streamlining the LCA Process; Systems Analysis; Industrial Ecosystems; Material Flow Analysis; National Material Accounts; Energy and IE; Water and IE; Urban IE; Modeling in IE; Scenarios for IE; Status of Resources; IE and SE in Developing Countries; IE and Sustainability in the Corporation/Government/Society MARKET: A useful reference for professionals in environmental science, environmental policy, and engineering

Metal resources, use and criticality

This first chapter of Critical Metals Handbook begins with definitions of certain key concepts and terminology relating to minerals and metals that will provide a foundation for the subsequent chapters. We are using minerals and metals in greater quantities than ever before. The main reasons for these changes are increased global population and the spread of prosperity across the world. In the light of these trends, it has become important to ask if we can continue to provide the minerals required to meet this demand, and also to question whether our resources will ultimately be exhausted. It is increasingly apparent that materials that have been incorporated into products no longer in use (secondary materials, scrap) can provide a valuable supplement to virgin stocks. Modern technology makes extensive use of the metals designated as critical by the various criticality assessments discussed in the chapter