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A desirable future critically depends on our ability to ensure the supply of key resources while simultaneously respecting planetary boundaries. This paper looks at the potential implications of living within the "safe operating space" for people, business and the economy. It develops a positive vision of the future based on three pillars: a safe and fair use of global resources, a sustainable society, and a transformed economy. We review and build on recent sustainability visions to develop a holistic reflection on what life in 2050 could look like, and explore the key changes in the economy needed to get there. In particular we show that resource efficiency requires a systemic shift in values, innovation, governance and management regimes. We present a bold vision for Europe underlined by indicators and targets, explore transition challenges to getting there and conclude with a list of key policies needed for overcoming challenges and reaching the vision.
This report details current and potential recycling of critical metals in Waste from Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The term "critical metals" is used instead of "rare metals" because the concept incorporates not only supply but also demand. The EU needs access to these metals and recycling can be an important part of the supply-strategy.
The study shows that the current recycling of critical metals in WEEE is very low, but that the potential amount could be increased threefold within 2015. Improving of the recycling of critical metals requires a variety of initiatives tackling different week point in the overall process: better collection, better pre-processing and end-processing, limiting the export of WEEE or used products out of the EU and better design of the EEE-products.
This study shows that data on sales volumes, WEEE composition and the composition of critical metals in EEE is currently insufficient for detailed analysis and monitoring, and addressing this should be a priority. Further, more detailed information on components used in EEE product groups would enable recyclers to identify and access the most materially important components. Dialog between recyclers, smelters and manufacturers could also facilitate product design that supports the recycling process.
The availability of life cycle inventories is one of the biggest challenges for life cycle wide environmental assessment. There are several life cycle assessment (LCA) databases providing inventory data as well as resource and emission profiles of processes for impact assessment methods like ReCiPe or IMPACT 2002+. But the use of these LCA databases for input oriented environmental assessment is very limited as they cover only a part of all relevant input flows. The paper describes current challenges when calculating the input oriented Material Input per Service Unit (MIPS) indicators based on LCA inventory data from the Ecoinvent database. Propositions are made how to address these challenges. As a conclusion, further need of research to reach a full compatibility of LCA databases and the MIPS concept is pointed out.