1 

# SUSTAINABLE **MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:**  **THE ROAD AHEAD**

Briefing for the National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology

by Derry Allen (EPA/OPEI) March 25, 20092 

# A ROADMAP **TO 2020**

• Sustainable Materials Management: The Road Ahead Final report due in May 2009. (Draft final: Jan. 2009).

• Report by 2020 Vision Workgroup (senior career staff from 3 HQ offices, 3 Regional offices, 4 States).

• Report addressed to Directors of ORCR (formerly OSW) and OPPT, who requested roadmap on how to implement “RCRA Vision” report (2002); audience includes EPA and states.
• Possible roles for NACEPT when report is complete.3 

# KEY MESSAGE OF REPORT

• How our society uses materials is much more fundamental to many aspects of our future – economy, energy, environment and climate – than most people realize.
• This report describes measures we can and should take today to begin a generation - long shift in how we manage materials. These measures will go a long way to assuring our future prosperity and a healthier planet.4



# MATERIALS

• **Materials :**  minerals, fuels, chemicals, forestry, agricultural (plants and animals), soil, rock and other materials that come from and return to the Earth.
• **Materials Management :**  an approach to serving human needs by using/reusing resources more sustainably throughout their life cycles, generally minimizing the amount of materials involved and all the associated environmental impacts.
• **Sustainable Materials Management** goes well beyond current waste and chemicals management approaches – considers system - wide impact.5 

# OUR MATERIAL **WORLD**

• In the past 50 years, humans have consumed more resources than in all previous history. • The U.S. consumed 57% more materials in 2000 than in 1975; the global increase was even higher. • With less than 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. was responsible for about one - third of the world’s total material consumption in 1970 - 1995. • Our reliance on minerals as fundamental ingredients in the manufactured products used in the U.S. — including cell phones, flat - screen monitors, paint, and toothpaste — requires more than 25,000 pounds of new nonfuel minerals per capita each year.6 

# OUR MATERIAL **WORLD**

• Over the past 200 years, real prices for many industrial raw materials have fallen significantly.
• Projections are that between 2000 and 2050, world population will grow 50%, global economic activity will grow 500%, and global energy and materials use will grow 300%. The environmental implications are dramatic.
• We need to decouple economic growth from resource use and waste generation. We need to move from waste management to materials management.7 

# U.S. MATERIALS **CONSUMPTION**

0, 000 1, 000 2, 000 3, 000 4, 000 5, 000 6, 000 7, 000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000MaterialConsumption(DMC)(millionmetrictons) Fo re st ry Ag ri cu lt ur e Nonr enewable Or ganic Ma te ri al Me ta ls a nd Mi ner als **So ur**  **ce :**  WR I Ma ter ial F lo w s D atabas e 2005. Source: WRI Material Flows Database 2005 Figure : Materials Consumption in the United States by Sector of Origin, 1975
– 20008 

# THE FLOW OF MATERIALS

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency9 

# MATERIALS **MANAGEMENT**

• By considering the impacts throughout the entire life cycle, materials management works to reduce environmental impacts, both (1) directly at each stage of life cycle, and (2) indirectly at multiple stages by reducing the amounts of materials used, and thus reducing system - wide environmental impacts.
• This approach is much broader than current waste and chemical program approaches in terms of goals, responsible parties, impacts and types of measures considered.10 

# CHOOSING **PRIORITY MATERIALS**

• The Workgroup has examined the life cycles of materials, products and services in the U.S. economy along five aspects:

- Environmental impacts (13 different measures)

- Energy use

- Water use

- Material use

- Material waste • Relative rankings have limitations but are useful for priorities. • Food, textiles, non - renewable organics (e.g., coal, petroleum products), metals, construction, forest products and several miscellaneous products generally ranked high. These results track with other studies. • Analysis generally endorsed in peer review; some additional runs and other adjustments now being made.11 

# RECOMMENDATIONS

• Three major recommendations: 1. Begin managing materials/products on a life cycle basis. 2. Enhance capacity for the future. 3. Accelerate public dialogue on materials management.
• Measures include many ideas from U.S. and international organizations/agreements (OECD, G8).
• Recommendations speak to EPA (HQ & regions) and states.
• Measures include near - term steps; would begin a generation - long shift in how we manage materials.12 

# RECOMMENDATION **1 1.**  **Begin managing materials and products on a life**   ** cycle** **basis.**
• Select a few materials/products for an integrated life cycle approach, and launch pilot efforts. • Focus existing programs more fully on life - cycle materials management strategies.13 

# RECOMMENDATION **2 2. Build capacity**  **a nd integrate materials management**  **approaches in government.**
• Establish and improve databases to promote materials management. • Improve decision tools to support life - cycle materials management. • Expand research and innovations support programs to boost materials management. • Emphasize materials management in agency programs and procedures. • Support and reward federal, state, tribal, and local champions for materials management.14 

# RECOMMENDATION **3 3.**  **Accelerate the broad, ongoing**  **public dialogue on life**  **- cycle materials management.** 
• Stimulate a national conversation about materials management, engaging multiple networks. • Open a dialogue on economic instruments to encourage better materials management. • Share knowledge about materials management within multiple networks.15 

# NEXT STEPS ON REPORT

• Final report due in May. Will be presented to new EPA senior leaders.
• Recommendations are even more important in today’s economy than when the workgroup began in 2007; can be an important element of our national strategy to address current economic, energy, environment and climate issues.
• Important to begin dialogue and start now scoping out implementation issues.16 

# POSSIBLE NACEPT **ROLES**

• Read final report (May 2009).

• Advise EPA, participate in public dialogue.

- Advise on general approach and implementation.

- Advise on specific issues, e.g.,

- Life cycle materials management strategies

- Data priorities

- Incorporate appropriate ideas into future NACEPT reports on various subjects.