Abstract
In the tradition of the study of materials flows through society, the Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) method is presented. SFA aims at providing the relevant information for a country’s overall management strategy regarding single substances or coherent groups of substances. This article is dedicated to the presentation of a threestep general framework for SFA-type studies, and elaborates on its first step the systems definition. Attention is given to the definition of the external and internal system boundaries, the categorization of the system’s elements, aspects of materials choice, time, and space, and how these depend on the aim of the conducted study. Moreover, a broader discussion is started on the need for standardization of materials flow studies in general.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderberg, S.;B. Bergbäck;U. Lohm: Flow and distribution of chromium in the Swedish environment: A new approach to studying environmental pollution. Ambio18 (1989) 216–220
Ayres, R. U.: Industrial Metabolism. In:Ausubel andSladovich (eds): Technology and Environment, National Academy Press, Washington DC (1989) 23–49
Ayres, R. U.; V. Norberg-Bohm; J. Prince; W. M. Stigliani; J. Yanowitz: Industrial Metabolism, the Environment, and Application of Materials-Balance Principles for Selected Chemicals. IIASA report RR-89-11, Laxenburg Austria (1989) vi + 118
Bergbäck, B.;S. Anderberg;U. Lohm: Lead Load: Historical Pattern of Lead Use in Sweden. Ambio21 (1992) 159–165
Bernts, H.;H. Van Zeijts;F. Stouthart: Vermindering mineralenoverschotten op landbouwbedrijven (Reduction of mineral surplus in agricultural practice). Centre for Agriculture and the Environment report Utrecht123 (1993) ii + 60
Blaauwendraat, F.; J. Van Dalen: Papier en papierprodukten in de Nederlandse economie, 1990 (Paper and paper products in the Dutch economy, 1990). Central Bureau of Statistics nr. 201 - 93-PS.E8/INT (1993) 12
Brunner, P. H.;P. Baccini: Regional Materials Management and Environmental Protection. Waste Manag. Res.10 (1992) 203–212
Duchin F.;G. M. Lange;K. Thonstad;A. M. Idenburg: Ecological Economics, Technological Change, and the Future of the Environment. Oxford University Press, New York (1994)
Gilbert, A. J.; J. F. Feenstra: An indicator of Sustainable Development — Diffusion of Cadmium. Free University of Amsterdam, report R-92/06, vi + 66 (1992)
Guinée, J. B.;H. A. Udo De Haes;G. Huppes: Quantitative life cycle assessment of prducts. Cleaner Product.1 (1993) 1–11 and2 (1993) 81–91
Huele, R.; R. Kleijn; E. Van Der Voet: Natural Resource Accounting, the search for a method. Ministry of Environment Series Environmental Strategy 1993/3, The Hague (1993)74
Huppes, G.; E. Van Der Voet; W. G. H. Van Der Naald; G. H. Vonkeman; P. Maxson: New Market-Oriented Instruments for Environmental Policies. Graham and Trotman European Communities Environmental Policy Series (1992) xxvii + 200
Husar, R. B.: Ecosystem and the biosphere: Metaphors for humaninduced material flows. In:R. U. Ayres;U. E. Simonis: Industrial Metabolism, Restructuring for Sustainable Development. United Nations University Press, Tokyo/New York, Paris (1992) 21–30
Idenburg, A. M.: Gearing production models to ecological economic analysis. PhD thesis Twente University, Faculty Bestuurskunde, Enschede, The Netherlands (1993) iv + 226
Kleijn, R.;E. Van Der Voet;H. A. U. De Haes: Controlling substance flows: the case of chlorine. Environ. Manag.18 (1993) 523–542
Kneese, A. V.;R. U. Ayres;R. C. D’arge: Economics and the environment. A Materials Balance Approach. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Md/USA (1972) x + 120
Kuik, O.; H. Verbruggen (Editors): In Search of Indicators of Sustainable Development. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Environment und Management Series no. 1, Dordrecht/Boston/London (1991) vii + 126
Leontief, W.: Input-Output Economics. Oxford University Press, New York/Oxford (1966)
MacKay, D.;K.E. Clark: Predicting the Environmental Partitioning of Organic Contaminants and their Transfer to Biota. In:K. C. Jones (Editor) Organic contaminants in the Environment. Elsevier Applied Science series, London/New York (1991) 159–188
Odum, H. T.: The energy of Natural Capital. Paper for the 2nd ISEE congress, Stockholm, August 3–6 (1992)
Schlesinger, W. H.: Biogeochemistry, an analysis of global change. Academic Press, Inc., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, San Diego, New York, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto (1991) xi + 443
Schmidt-Bleek, F.: MIPS — A Universal Ecological Measure? Fresenius Environ. Bull2 (1993) 306–311
Simonis, U. E.: Industrial restructuring in industrial countries. In:R. U. Ayres undU. E. Simonis: Industrial Metabolism, Restructuring for Sustainable Development. United Nations University Press, Tokyo/New York, Paris (1992) 31–54
Stigliani, W. M.;S. Anderberg: Industrial Metabolism at the Regional Level: the Rhine Basin. IIASA working paper WP-92-10, Laxenburg, Austria40 (1992)
Victor, P. A.: Pollution — Economy and Environment. George Allen und Unwin Ltd, London247 (1972)
Van Der Voet, E.: PhD thesis, in preparation, Centre of Environmental Science Leiden University
Van Der VOET, E.; R. Heijungs: Life-Cycle Assessment and Materials Balances — Different Approaches? SETAC-Europe LCA News4, (1994) 3–4
Van Der Voet, E.; R. Heijungs; P. Mulder; R. Huele; R. Kleijn; L. Van Oers: Substance flows through the economy and environment of a region — Part II: Modelling. Environ. Scie. & Pollut Res. 2/3 (1995)
Walker, J. C. G.: Numerical adventures with geochemical cycles. Oxford University Press, New York/Oxford (1991) ix + 192
Weterings, R. A. P. M.; J. B. Opschoor: Duurzaam gebruik van voorraden: op zoek naar normstelling (Sustainable resource use: in search of limits). Ministry of the Environment Publication Series “Milieustrategie”, nr. 1992/17, The Hague (1992)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van der Voet, E., Kleijn, R., van Oers, L. et al. Substance flows through the economy and environment of a region. Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 2, 90–96 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986723
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986723