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Analyzing consumer-related nitrogen flows: A case study on food and material use in Austria

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  • Pierer, Magdalena
  • Schröck, Andrea
  • Winiwarter, Wilfried

Abstract

Nitrogen budgets cover pools and flows of nitrogen (N) contained in human-made goods and compounds, which may potentially affect the global nitrogen cycle and in consequence the human environment. Acknowledging the importance of food and other agricultural products, this paper additionally investigates frequently neglected flows of N related to consumers and estimates their magnitude, using Austria in 2010 as an example. Specifically, N in non-food industrial products (synthetic & natural polymers, wood & paper products, waste), and N related to pets, gardens, and energy use is considered. Over the last five decades, both food and material consumption have increased distinctly. While food supply accounts for 52% of total directly consumer-related nitrogen inflows covered in this study (66,000tNa−1), also material products account for a considerable share of 28% (36,000tNa−1). N application in gardens (12%) and N in pet food (7%) do also play a role. Quantified outflows are human excretion (54%), food waste (13%), garden waste (16%), material waste (7%) and waste from pets (10%). The detected balance surplus of 34,000tNa−1, corresponding to 27% of total inflows, points to some accumulation of N in the form of durable consumer goods and to potentially missing flows. The analysis focusses on the apparent knowledge gaps. Especially flows involving material products are poorly understood and would require better understanding of nitrogen contents of products and of waste. This indicates that improvements may be possible by providing more complete nitrogen budgets in the future that cover all environmental pools.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierer, Magdalena & Schröck, Andrea & Winiwarter, Wilfried, 2015. "Analyzing consumer-related nitrogen flows: A case study on food and material use in Austria," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 203-211.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:101:y:2015:i:c:p:203-211
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.05.024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pierer, Magdalena & Winiwarter, Wilfried & Leach, Allison M. & Galloway, James N., 2014. "The nitrogen footprint of food products and general consumption patterns in Austria," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(P1), pages 128-136.
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    1. James Fraser & Joshua Theodore Bazuin & George Hornberger, 2016. "The privatization of neighborhood governance and the production of urban space," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 48(5), pages 844-870, May.
    2. Chen, Minpeng & Sun, Fu & Shindo, Junko, 2016. "China’s agricultural nitrogen flows in 2011: Environmental assessment and management scenarios," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 10-27.
    3. Yang, Meng & Zhang, Xiaolin & Zhang, Yan & Fath, Brian D., 2022. "Consistence of structural changes in food nitrogen consumption between rural and urban residents in the context of rapid urbanization," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 471(C).

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