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An element flow analysis approach to support the circular economy

In: Handbook of the Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Rajib Sinha
  • Rafael Laurenti
  • Jagdeep Singh
  • Björn M. Frostell

Abstract

Accounting material flows and stocks in the societal metabolism is an important cornerstone in the transformation towards circulation of physical resources – towards a circular economy. Material flow analysis (MFA) and substance flow analysis (SFA) are commonly used tools to understand the societal physical resource metabolism. However, these tools have a limitation in analysing flows and stocks at too an aggregated level, which limits the understanding of the material cycles in the societal metabolism. The aim of this article is therefore to introduce the concept of element flow analysis (EFA) to track stocks and flows in complex human systems at an element level. We illustrate the applicability of the concept in a case about exploring strategies for improving the circularity efficiency of gold flows in the global mobile phone product system using a system dynamics model.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajib Sinha & Rafael Laurenti & Jagdeep Singh & Björn M. Frostell, 2020. "An element flow analysis approach to support the circular economy," Chapters, in: Miguel Brandão & David Lazarevic & Göran Finnveden (ed.), Handbook of the Circular Economy, chapter 9, pages 99-115, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:18519_9
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