IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v28y2024i2p232-246.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reassessing tin circularity and criticality

Author

Listed:
  • Jessie E. Bradley
  • Willem L. Auping
  • René Kleijn
  • Jan H. Kwakkel
  • Benjamin Sprecher

Abstract

Tin is an important metal for society with a high risk of supply disruptions. It is, therefore, classified as a critical material in many parts of the world. An exception is the European Union, for which tin was classified as a non‐critical material in 2023. However, there are many discrepancies in the literature regarding the definitions and values of the indicators used to determine tin criticality in general, and recycling indicators in particular. Values for end‐of‐life recycling rate (EoL RR) range between 20% and 75%, and values for end‐of‐life recycling input rate (EoL RIR) range between 11% and 32%. In this paper, we critically assess the circularity and criticality indicator values for tin and calculate new values using material flow analysis. The new values for tin recycling indicators are lower than those used in most previous research, with a global EoL RR of 16% and an EoL RIR of 11% in 2017. Based on the updated recycling values, combined with a highly concentrated supply, high import reliance, and difficult substitution, we argue that the European Union should classify tin as a critical material. This reclassification can lead to more policy attention for tin, which can help reduce the impact of future supply disruptions and increase the resilience of the European and global tin supply chains.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessie E. Bradley & Willem L. Auping & René Kleijn & Jan H. Kwakkel & Benjamin Sprecher, 2024. "Reassessing tin circularity and criticality," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(2), pages 232-246, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:28:y:2024:i:2:p:232-246
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13459
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13459
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.13459?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. T. E. Graedel & Barbara K. Reck, 2016. "Six Years of Criticality Assessments: What Have We Learned So Far?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(4), pages 692-699, August.
    2. Tercero Espinoza, Luis A., 2021. "Critical appraisal of recycling indicators used in European criticality exercises and circularity monitoring," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    3. Christoph Helbig & Martin Bruckler & Andrea Thorenz & Axel Tuma, 2021. "An Overview of Indicator Choice and Normalization in Raw Material Supply Risk Assessments," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-26, August.
    4. Alexandre Charpentier Poncelet & Christoph Helbig & Philippe Loubet & Antoine Beylot & Stéphanie Muller & Jacques Villeneuve & Bertrand Laratte & Andrea Thorenz & Axel Tuma & Guido Sonnemann, 2022. "Losses and lifetimes of metals in the economy," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(8), pages 717-726, August.
    5. Alexandre Charpentier Poncelet & Christoph Helbig & Philippe Loubet & Antoine Beylot & Stéphanie Muller & Jacques Villeneuve & Bertrand Laratte & Andrea Thorenz & Axel Tuma & Guido Sonnemann, 2022. "Author Correction: Losses and lifetimes of metals in the economy," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 552-552, June.
    6. Daryna Panasiuk & Ichiro Daigo & Takeo Hoshino & Hideo Hayashi & Eiji Yamasue & Duc Huy Tran & Benjamin Sprecher & Feng Shi & Volodymyr Shatokha, 2022. "International comparison of impurities mixing and accumulation in steel scrap," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(3), pages 1040-1050, June.
    7. Willi Haas & Fridolin Krausmann & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Markus Heinz, 2015. "How Circular is the Global Economy?: An Assessment of Material Flows, Waste Production, and Recycling in the European Union and the World in 2005," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(5), pages 765-777, October.
    8. T. E. Graedel & Barbara K. Reck & Alessio Miatto, 2022. "Alloy information helps prioritize material criticality lists," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    9. Iñaki Arto, 2009. "Using Total Material Requirement to Reduce the Global Environmental Burden," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 13(5), pages 775-790, October.
    10. Tercero Espinoza, Luis Alberto & Soulier, Marcel, 2017. "Defining regional recycling indicators for metals: An extension of global recycling indicators to regional systems with open boundaries," Working Papers "Sustainability and Innovation" S04/2017, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    11. T. E. Graedel & Julian Allwood & Jean‐Pierre Birat & Matthias Buchert & Christian Hagelüken & Barbara K. Reck & Scott F. Sibley & Guido Sonnemann, 2011. "What Do We Know About Metal Recycling Rates?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(3), pages 355-366, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael Saidani & Alissa Kendall & Bernard Yannou & Yann Leroy & François Cluzel, 2019. "Closing the loop on platinum from catalytic converters: Contributions from material flow analysis and circularity indicators," Post-Print hal-02094798, HAL.
    2. Göçmen Polat, Elifcan & Yücesan, Melih & Gül, Muhammet, 2023. "A comparative framework for criticality assessment of strategic raw materials in Turkey," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Luca Ciacci & Ivano Vassura & Fabrizio Passarini, 2017. "Urban Mines of Copper: Size and Potential for Recycling in the EU," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Dewulf, Jo & Blengini, Gian Andrea & Pennington, David & Nuss, Philip & Nassar, Nedal T., 2016. "Criticality on the international scene: Quo vadis?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 169-176.
    5. Kühnel, Konstantin & Schütte, Philip & Bach, Vanessa & Franken, Gudrun & Finkbeiner, Matthias, 2023. "Correlation analysis of country governance indicators and the magnitude of environmental and social incidents in mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    6. Mei, Yueru & Geng, Yong & Xiao, Shijiang & Su, Chang & Gao, Ziyan & Wei, Wendong, 2023. "Dynamic material flow analysis of rhenium in China for 2011–2020," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    7. Helbig, Christoph & Bradshaw, Alex M. & Kolotzek, Christoph & Thorenz, Andrea & Tuma, Axel, 2016. "Supply risks associated with CdTe and CIGS thin-film photovoltaics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 422-433.
    8. Marc Schmid, 2021. "The Revised German Raw Materials Strategy in the Light of Global Political and Market Developments," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 38(1), pages 49-75, January.
    9. Alexander Cimprich & Steven B. Young & Dieuwertje Schrijvers & Anthony Y. Ku & Christian Hagelüken & Patrice Christmann & Roderick Eggert & Komal Habib & Atsufumi Hirohata & Alan J. Hurd & Min-Ha Lee , 2023. "The role of industrial actors in the circular economy for critical raw materials: a framework with case studies across a range of industries," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 36(2), pages 301-319, June.
    10. Cris Garcia-Saravia Ortiz-de-Montellano & Yvonne Meer, 2022. "A Theoretical Framework for Circular Processes and Circular Impacts Through a Comprehensive Review of Indicators," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(2), pages 291-314, June.
    11. Yu, Shiwei & Duan, Haoran & Cheng, Jinhua, 2021. "An evaluation of the supply risk for China's strategic metallic mineral resources," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    12. Pothen, Frank & Hundt, Carolin, 2024. "European post-consumer steel scrap in 2050: A review of estimates and modeling assumptions," Jena Contributions to Economic Research Jahrgang 2024/1, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
    13. Christoph Helbig & Jonas Huether & Charlotte Joachimsthaler & Christian Lehmann & Simone Raatz & Andrea Thorenz & Martin Faulstich & Axel Tuma, 2022. "A terminology for downcycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1164-1174, August.
    14. Hundt, Carolin & Pothen, Frank, 2024. "European post-consumer steel scrap in 2050: A review of estimates and modeling assumptions," Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Schriften 01/2024, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
    15. Wajad Ulfat & Ayesha Mohyuddin & Muhammad Amjad & Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan & Beenish Mujahid & Sohail Nadeem & Mohsin Javed & Adnan Amjad & Abdul Qayyum Ashraf & Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman & Sadaful H, 2023. "Reuse of Buffing Dust-Laden Tanning Waste Hybridized with Poly- Styrene for Fabrication of Thermal Insulation Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, January.
    16. Adriano Cordisco & Riccardo Melloni & Lucia Botti, 2022. "Sustainable Circular Economy for the Integration of Disadvantaged People: A Preliminary Study on the Reuse of Lithium-Ion Batteries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, July.
    17. Jacopo Zotti & Andrea Bigano, 2019. "Write circular economy, read economy’s circularity. How to avoid going in circles," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(2), pages 629-652, July.
    18. Guo, Tianjiao & Geng, Yong & Song, Xiaoqian & Rui, Xue & Ge, Zewen, 2023. "Tracing magnesium flows in China: A dynamic material flow analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    19. Millar, Neal & McLaughlin, Eoin & Börger, Tobias, 2019. "The Circular Economy: Swings and Roundabouts?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 11-19.
    20. Chen, Wei-Qiang & Graedel, T.E., 2012. "Dynamic analysis of aluminum stocks and flows in the United States: 1900–2009," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 92-102.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:28:y:2024:i:2:p:232-246. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.