Resource convergence and resource power: towards new concepts for material efficiency

Abstract

Material efficiency is not a panacea, but it lies at the intersection of many problems of global sustainability. Reducing the usage of a single material in a value chain may require ingenuity and wide cooperation, but conceptually it is not a problem. When the problem stretches to several resources in changing circumstances, we have to understand the linkages between resources and the power, and the influence of each resource in decision-making in different settings. In this paper, we concisely go from the time dimension to a very short history of resource thinking, and then introduce our resource convergence concept. Using text mining on a sample of articles linking different resources, we show in a ‘visual literature review’ how resource convergence emerges from unrelated texts. To demonstrate one new method under the resource convergence umbrella, we use a case example with our Resource Power Index method. In our opinion, mastering complexity will be the key to solving the challenges we are facing, and mastering resource convergence and translating it into material efficiency is one of the central problems. What we show in this paper is a core framework and some details of the direction we see as worth pursuing.

Benefits and applications of interdisciplinary digital tools for environmental meta-reviews and analyses

“…Computational tools have been applied in environmental fields (e.g. Kostoff et al 2008, Neff and Corley 2009, Altaweel and Bone 2012, Zamagni et al 2012, Vasara et al 2013, Cody et al 2015, Convertino et al 2016 using methods like bibliometrics and media analysis to describe the state of a field and to recommend interpretations and research directions. A growing number of bibliometric analyses, which assess patterns in bibliographic data, demonstrates interest by environmental researchers in use of such tools (e.g.…”

“…A growing number of bibliometric analyses, which assess patterns in bibliographic data, demonstrates interest by environmental researchers in use of such tools (e.g. Kugo et al 2005, Janssen 2007, Neff and Corley 2009, Altaweel and Bone 2012, Zamagni et al 2012, Vasara et al 2013, Wang et al 2014, Chen et al 2016. Authors in other fields have suggested the use of computational methods to aid literature reviews (e.g.…”

Material efficiency: providing material services with less material production

“…Second, Vasara et al [21] discuss a more general phenomenon than the coupling of 'critical' to 'energy' concerns detected by Ayres and Talens Peiró. The development of biofuels as an alternative to fuel oils clearly depends on the (large-scale) availability of fertile land and fresh water for irrigation.…”

“…Similarly, the conversion of coal to liquid fuel requires water, and most means to overcome water shortages demand increased energy input. Vasara et al [21], therefore, describe what they term 'resource convergence'-recognizing that many resource stresses and responses to those stresses are coupled to stresses and responses for other key resources (including energy, water, land, metals, chemicals and biomass). Material efficiency is, therefore, likely to become a priority strategy in the wider area of responding to resource stresses other than energy and emissions.…”

“…Where Vasara et al [21] focus on the connections between key materials such as steel and cement with other resource systems, Lifset & Eckelman [22] discuss the role of these key materials as components within complex multi-material products. They consider the motivation for exploring material efficiency, by asking at which scale of decision-making it is most likely to be valuable.…”