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Sustainable Materials Management in the OECD
Peter Börkey
Environment Directorate
International Conference on Sustainable Materials Management
6 December 2011, Taipei
Outline
1. Why is SMM needed?
2. What is the progress in resource productivity?
3. What is SMM and how can it help?
4. Where do we stand on SMM in the OECD?
5. What are the next steps for the OECD?
Why is SMM needed?
Nitr
ogen
flo
w
Ocean
acidity
?
1950-60
1970-80
Latest data
1990-2000
Pre-Ind.
?
??
?
2
Planetary Boundaries
Pressures and transgressions increase in the future
Planetary Boundaries
Source: Stockholm Resilience Centre
Global extraction of material resources, Growth 1980-2007
Efficiency: Material Extraction
Source: UNEP, 201111
What is the progress in Resource Productivity?
Per capita domestic material consumption (DMC), OECD and BRIICS, 1980-2008
Key trends in material consumption
Material Consumption
• Resource productivity in the OECD improved significantly (42% between 1980 and 2008)
• However, total material consumption continues to grow in the OECD
• A few countries have achieved absolute decoupling
• But when indirect flows are taken into account progress is more modest
Resource productivity as an indicator
• Pro:– An indicator of the resource intensity of the economy
– An indicator of the pressure on resource stocks
– A proxy indicator of environmental pressure per unit of GDP
– A proxy indicator for the competitiveness of the economy
• Con:– Inherent weakness of MFA, which lumps together very different
materials in tonnes
– Need to capture hidden flows
• Need for a more differentiated breakdown by material, but data limitations
Key trends in waste
Waste
• Total waste generation shows a mixed picture
• But per capita municipal solid waste decreased by 4% over the last ten years
• Also recycling rates increased far many materials
0
50
100
150
200
250
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Private consumptionGDP
Waste generated
Waste generated per capita
Municipal waste treatment and disposal in the G8
What is SMM and how can it help?
19
Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)
• The following working definition was developed by the OECD Working Group on Waste Prevention and Recycling to guide further work in this area:
“Sustainable Materials Management is an approach to promote sustainable materials use, integrating actions targeted at reducing negative environmental impacts and preserving natural capital throughout the life-cycle of materials, taking into account economic efficiency and social equity.”
Rationale for SMM
• Reduce life-cycle environmental impacts and improve policy coherence
• Reduce dependency on raw materials and improve resource security
• Improve competitiveness
• Contribute to growth and jobs
Example of dairy products
Materials Flow Cycles and Policy Frameworks
Source: Fiksel, 2010
Comprehensive Policy Frameworks are Needed– Targeting resource flows at all life-cycle stages– Addressing the drivers of unsustainable resource consumption in all key sectors– This requiresPolicy Integration
Partnerships need to start within the Government itself
Source: Slide from IGES
Where do OECD countries stand on SMM?
SMM policies addressing materials
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Generic materials
Plastics Metals Paper & cardboard
Glass Wood Textiles
Num
ber o
f respo
ndents
2007
2011
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Num
ber of respondents
2007
2011
SMM policies addressing product categories
Where do OECD countries stand on SMM?
• 2007 and 2011 SMM surveys among OECD countries show:– Increasing uptake of SMM concept in policies
– Scope and coverage of SMM policies increasing
– Broad set of policy instruments used for SMM
– But SMM policies remain insufficiently integrated accross stages of life-cycle
– A number of obstacles need to be overcome to achieve further progress
What are the next steps at OECD?
• Efforts to develop practical guidance on SMM. Possible activities:– Material case studies looking at apportunities
for better policy integration
– Analysis and recommendations of specific SMM policy instruments such as EPRs, deposit-refund systems, information instruments
– The costs and financing of SMM
– Thematic review of waste policies
