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Featured Application: Waste valorization in the production process of scrap-based stainless-steel. Recycling of steelmaking slags has well-established applications, such as their use in cement, asphalt, or fertilizer industries. Although in some cases, such as the electric arc furnace (EAF) high-alloyed stainless-steel production, the slag's high metal content prevents its use in such applications. This forces companies to accumulate it as waste. Using concepts such dematerialization, waste management, industrial symbiosis, and circular economy, the article drafts a conceptual framework on the best route to solving the landfilling issue, aiming at a zero-waste process re-design. An experimental part follows, with an investigation of the use of landfill slag as a substitute of limestone for the neutralization of acidic wastewater, produced by the rinsing of steel after the pickling process. Neutralization of acidic wastewater with both lime and slag samples was performed with two different methods. Two out of four slag samples tested proved their possible use, reaching desired pH values compared to lime neutralizations. Moreover, the clean waters resulting from the neutralizations with the use of both lime and slag were tested. In terms of hazardous element concentrations, neutralization with slag yielded similar results to lime. The results of these trials show that slag is a potential substitute of lime for the neutralization of acidic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper investigates the applicability of the phenomenological approach articulated by the Nineteenth Century German architectural theoretician Gottfried Semper (1803-79) of "Cladding as the origin of architecture", to understand the surface design of Hellenistic Macedonian tomb architecture. The phenomenological approach to dematerialization in surface design, introduced by Semper, has never been investigated and studied in Hellenistic architecture. Based on Semper criteria, the study argues that Hellenistic architecture of the Macedonian tombs demonstrated a distinctive conceptual freedom of design, associated with the development of the masonry technology of semi-cylindrical barrel-vaulted chambers. This development endowed Hellenistic architectural and the morphology of its surface façade design continuous creativity and innovation. The study analyzes various examples of Macedonian tombs dated from the 4th to the 2nd centuries BCE. The aim of this research is to reveal crucial phenomenal aspects of cladding/masking of the Macedonian tomb's façade. Thus, dealing with its surface as an effect rather than an object, the study will shed light on a crucial reality that was censored in previous studies of Macedonian tombs architecture which considered it a lifeless mask. Based on Semper theory, the study will show that the issue of meaning in Hellenistic architecture is related to the manner with which surface design is approached. Thus, ornaments and decorations at its façades go beyond decorating, to become further tools for potent expression and cultural reference of the Oikoumene. As conclusion, Hellenistic surface façade design contributed to effective branding and image-making within its larger Pan-Mediterranean context of the Greco-Macedonian and Ptolemaic Alexandrian, Pompeian second style, Nabataean architecture and later the Renaissance. The hugely influential Oikoumene Hellenistic design approach may have a lasting impact on architectural design even today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Iberoamericana de Ciencia, Tecnologia y Sociedad is the property of Centro de Estudios sobre Ciencia, Desarrollo y Educacion Superior and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we investigate the third stand, our perspective on embodied interaction with digital products and systems. First, we discuss its background of dematerialization, an ongoing evolution in which physical products and information carriers disappear, and become immaterial information packages and on-screen applications. We establish how dematerialization influences both design research and design practice. Next, we present a digital payment terminal that we designed in order to explore the added value of our third stand perspective. In an experiment, we compare it with an existing payment terminal. The results of the experiment reveal that the third stand terminal scores higher on hedonic values, like beauty and stimulation. The existing terminal scores higher on pragmatic values, like ease-of-use and efficiency. We position the third stand as a design approach that pleas for embodiment from a hedonic perspective and propose to extend the argument for embodiment beyond pragmatic values. Finally, we suggest that the third stand celebrates the limitations of the physical world instead of trying to overcome them, and gives rise to specific emotional values like attentiveness, profundity, and preciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The rapid technological evolution and adoption of consumer electronics highlights a growing need for adaptive methodologies to evaluate material consumption at the intersection of technological change and increasing consumption. While dematerialization and the circular economy (CE) have both been proposed to mitigate increasing material consumption, recent research has shown that these methods may be ineffective at achieving net material use reduction: When focused on specific products, these methods neglect the effects of complex interactions among and increasing consumption of consumer electronic products. The research presented here develops and applies a material flow analysis aimed at evaluating an entire "product ecosystem," thereby including the effects of increasing consumption, product trade‐offs, and technological innovations. Results are then used to evaluate the potential efficacy of "natural" dematerialization (occurring as technology advances or smaller products substitute for larger ones) and CE (closing the loop between secondary material supply and primary material demand). Results show that material consumption by the ecosystem of electronics commonly used by U.S. households peaked in 2000. This consumption relies on increasingly diverse materials, including gold, cobalt, and indium, for whom secondary supply is still negligible, particularly given low recovery rates, often less than 1%. Potential circularity metrics of material "dilution," "dispersion," and "demand mismatch" are also evaluated, and indicate that CE approaches aimed at closing the loop on consumer electronic material still face several critical barriers particularly related to design and efficient recycling infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two essential terms in environmental sciences - dematerialization and decoupling - have always been controversial. This study aims to trace the evolution path on the methodologies, the evidences and the policies, and to reflect on the implications of the development. We specifically present several classical definitions so as to summarize the similarities and differences thereinafter. Several commonly used methodologies, which are employed for evaluating the levels of dematerialization and decoupling, are discussed. As expected, the empirical evidences rarely support the absolute dematerialization and decoupling, which challenge the relevant policies implemented worldwide. In this context, the rebound effect, which is regarded as the main obstacle, is necessary to be examined in the various sectors and areas. However, the results of the rebound levels are far from unanimous. This article has a further discussion on the possible direction for the inconclusive debate in a broader perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Investigating the network system of Italian industrial sectors. • The role of the final demand in an economic system. • The impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on the Italian economy. • Driving and pull forces in terms of energy consumption for the economic system. • Ecological relationships, mutuality index and synergy of the Italian economy. This article focuses on modelling the structure of the Italian economy and its evolution from 2015 to 2019 using Physical Input-Output tables to understand its functioning in terms of biophysical and monetary exchanges. We considered energy extracted from natural resources within the country and embodied energy from natural resources extracted abroad. The model includes final demand (government, household, and gross capital formation) as endogenous factors. The results show that Agriculture, Advanced Manufacturing, and Tertiary industry are the main sectors consuming energy when considering the direct energy required to produce one unit of economic output. However, when assessing embodied energy, Tertiary Industry emerges as the leading consumer of energy. The findings demonstrate how the services sectors are highly dependant on the flow of energy-intensive resources. Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) was applied to identify the main sectors driving the Italian economy and their ability to obtain energy inflows from other sectors. The study found that the Tertiary industry, Final demand, and Manufacturing sectors were the main drivers of the Italian economy and had a higher ability to obtain energy inflows. The results also showed that exploitative or control relations dominated interactions between different economic sectors. Our results highlight that the dematerialization process at national level comes at environmental costs elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article. The aim of the article is to study key-factors of forming economic systems in conditions of the Third industrial revolution and to predict the main directions of their development. On the basis of trialectical approach (assuming the trinity of the interaction of material, information and synergetic origins) it is proposed the preconditions for beginning and development of the Third industrial revolution. Regulations of new socio-economic formation, the basis of which forms «green» (sustainable) economy are studied. The results of the analysis. The following conclusions might be done on the base of the author’s studies. The main properties of green economy are: - sharp decline of ecodestructive processes of production and consumption; this is achieved by the transition to renewable sources of energy and renewable material resources, as well as the abandonment of fossil fuels and combustion processes for energy production; today renewable energy sources, reaching in some countries (Germany, Denmark, Sweden) 20-30% of the energy production have practically replaced the nuclear power that allows to displace nuclear energy development program; - computerization of all spheres of economic and social life; one of the directions of this was creation of digital control systems: «smart» manufacturing operations, sites, shops and factories, «smart» cities and communications; «smart» regions and countries; the result is a significant increase in the efficiency of the economic processes implementation; - dematerialization of industrial metabolism of society, i.e. reduction of resource intensity (material and energy consumption) of the processes; it is achieved by using 3D-printer, the widespread introduction of additive methods of goods production, miniaturization, increased functionality and convergence of consumer goods (i.e. convergence) of their properties; - naturalization of materials and processes, i.e. approximation of their properties to the properties of substances and processes that exist in the natural environment; - netting of social processes involves formation of integrated systems that are combined into a unified whole activities of individual elements, as it occurs in natural ecosystems, eventually forming a harmonious single biosphere. The contours of the formed «green» economy are compared with the characteristics of «the spacemen economy» which image was formulated by K. Boulding in the middle of the ХХ century. Conclusions and directions of further researches. It is foreseen the following directions of the further researches: analysis of preconditions for transformation during the Third industrial revolution of three groups factors of economic systems forming: (1) material and energy; (2) information; (3) synergetic (communication).

As long as economic growth is a major political goal, decoupling growth from resource use and emissions is a prerequisite for a sustainable net-zero emissions future. However, empirical evidence for absolute decoupling, i.e. decreasing resource use and emissions at the required scale despite continued economic growth, is scarce and scattered across different research streams. In this two-part systematic review, we assess how and to what extent decoupling has been observed and what can be learnt for addressing the sustainability and climate crisis. Based on a transparent approach, we systematically identify and screen more than 11 500 scientific papers, eventually analyzing full texts of 835 empirical studies on the relationship between economic growth (GDP), resource use (materials and energy) and greenhouse gas emissions. Part I of the review examines how decoupling has been investigated across three research streams: energy, materials and energy, and emissions. Part II synthesizes the empirical evidence and policy implications (Haberl et al 2020 Environ. Res. Lett. 15 065003). In part I, we examine the topical, temporal and geographical scopes, methods of analysis, institutional networks and prevalent conceptual angles. We find that in this rapidly growing literature, the vast majority of studies—decomposition, ‘causality’ and Environmental Kuznets Curve analysis—approach the topic from a statistical-econometric point of view, while hardly acknowledging thermodynamic principles on the role of energy and materials for socio-economic activities. A potentially fundamental incompatibility between economic growth and systemic societal changes to address the climate crisis is rarely considered. We conclude that the existing wealth of empirical evidence merits braver conceptual advances than we have seen thus far. Future work should focus on comprehensive multi-indicator long-term analyses, conceptually grounded on the fundamental biophysical basis of socio-economic activities, incorporating the role of global supply chains as well as the wider societal role and preconditions of economic growth.

The aim of the article. Present requires finding new ways and approaches in solving urgent balanced social, environmental and economic problems. One of the most popular concepts, results of which are positive changes of socio-economic systems towards sustainable development is the concept of dematerialization. It lies in reduction of material flows at different levels of economic activity that is reflected in a decrease of energy and resources consumption as well as in wastes generated per unit of produced national (regional) product. At the enterprise level dematerialization is defined by gradual reduction of materials that are used for manufacturing of one unit of the end product, as well as changes in production processes that result in reduction of intermediate material inputs. The aim of the article is a theoretical and conceptual substantiation of provisions concerning the formation of ecological and economic mechanism of dematerialization at the enterprise. The results of the analysis. Ecological and economic mechanism of dematerialization at the enterprise (EEMDE) is interpreted by us as a complete system of forms, methods and incentives of material flows management that provides dematerialization and resolution of environmental problems, based on the economic interests of the entity in accordance with the postulates of sustainable development. The purpose of EEMDE should be defined as a reduction of material flows destructive impact on the environment while ensuring economic efficiency of dematerialization measures aimed at the reduction of such influence. Stated objective within EEMDE requires solving the following tasks: ensuring of the compliance of environmental standards at the enterprise; reduction of the natural, ecological and resource capacity of products; reduction of economic expenses of the economic entity as a result of the decrease in its use of natural resources, payments for them; ensuring of the revenue growth, acceleration of the turnover of working capital, fixed assets of the entity; improvement of professional skills of personnel of the enterprise and formation of ecological image of the company for consumers; ensuring of a high level of income and benefits to all participants of dematerialization processes at the enterprise so on. The object of management can be identified as a system of interconnected material flows of the company. And EEMDE construction and operation should be based on the following basic principles: systematic, flexibility, complexity, self-reproducibility, environmentally responsible, social responsibility, economic efficiency. Integral parts of the mechanism are methods and management tools that ensure the execution of required tasks. There are administrative units, social, psychological and economic tools and methods. The main stages of implementation of the proposed EEMDE should be considered through building a logical sequence of works on dematerialization of goods (works, services). 1. Forming of the team of performers. 2. Selection of products and determination of services which it provides. 3. Construction of manufacturing process circuit. 4. Evaluation of the level of dematerialization of chosen product. 5. Dematerialization of products transformation: 5.1) identification of problem nodes (in terms of dematerialization) at the stages of product life cycle; 5.2) searching of possible ways of dematerialization using the methods of brainstorming, morphological, method of analogies, etc.; 5.3) selection of the most realistic ideas and technologies to implement dematerialization changes; 5.4) assessment of the level of dematerialization of project production by the alternative options for the purpose of electing the best; 5.5) economic evaluation of effectiveness of the implementation of selected option of dematerialization project according the identified criteria; 5.6) taking decision to start the project implementation or in the case of discrepancy of received results returning to stage 5.2; 5.7) planning and implementation of selected projects of dematerialization transformation of products. Evaluation of the results: economic (growth of the enterprise’s profit; acceleration of the turnover of working capital; reducing of economic costs; improvement of the economic efficiency of enterprise and so on); environmental (reduction of nature -, resource and ecological production capacity; reduction of environmental costs of the enterprise; reduction of the eco-destructive influence of enterprises, etc.); social (growth of environmental consciousness of employees; growth of wages of staff; increasing employee’s satisfaction from the work; improvement of the emotional climate in the team; improvement of working conditions; reducing the incidence of employees. Conclusions and directions of further researches. The suggested theoretical and conceptual positions allows to form ecological and economic dematerialization mechanism at the enterprise. Functioning of mechanism provides dematerialization changes and solving ecological tasks, basing on the economic interests of the enterprise, according to the postulates of sustainable development. The ultimate goal of EEMDE is the reduction of destructive impact of material flows of the economic entity on the environment while ensuring economic efficiency measures aimed at reduction such influence. We believe that this mechanism can be used in all areas of economic activity – from production to services provision. It allows both compare versions of eco-efficient solutions among themselves and develop new products and business strategies taking into account the benefits of dematerialization. As further researches, we consider actual the drafting of enterprise’s development strategy basing on dematerialization transformations, as well as searching of ecological and economic instruments of dematerialization management on meso- and macro- levels of economic activity.

Abstract City has always been a concentrated area of consumption and pollution in a country or region. Solutions to the dematerialization of city would exert a profound impact on the entire socio-economic system. And the issue of resources and environment in Beijing, the center of China’s politics, economy, and culture, becomes a focus of attention both domestically and internationally. In this paper, we used the economy-wide material flow analysis to describe the socio-economic development and the current situation of resources and environment in Beijing during the period 1992–2015. Based on this, Tapio decoupling model and the logarithmic mean divisia index method were used to analyze the level and influencing factors of dematerialization in Beijing. The results of the study showed that: From 1992 to 2015, GDP of Beijing increased from 61.25 billion yuan to 623.45 billion yuan, at the same time, direct material input and domestic processed output also increased from 139.88 million tons and 78.63 million tons in 1992 to 205.17 million tons and 166.27 million tons in 2015 respectively. Judging from the change of the decoupling relationship between economic growth and resources and environment, the level of dematerialization in Beijing was continuously increasing. And the dematerialization level of resource consumption was slightly better than that of pollution discharge. The high expansion of population and economy was not conducive to the realization of dematerialization in Beijing. However, the decrease of the intensity of material utilization played a crucial role in the process of dematerialization in Beijing. Moreover, increases in material circulation and social overall level of cleaner production were beneficial to the realization of dematerialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A mass balanced assessment of global material extraction and outflows of wastes and emissions since 1900. • Material extraction has accelerated since 2002, reaching90 Gt/yr in 2015, improvements in material intensity stalled. • Humanity has deposited 2500 Gt of wastes and emissions to the environment since 1900. • 28% of all outflows of wastes and emissions since 1900 occurred between 2002 and 2015. • A global convergence in material use patterns until 2050 could result in a 2.5x rise in global material demand. Abstract The size and structure of the socioeconomic metabolism are key for the planet's sustainability. In this article, we provide a consistent assessment of the development of material flows through the global economy in the period 1900–2015 using material flow accounting in combination with results from dynamic stock-flow modelling. Based on this approach, we can trace materials from extraction to their use, their accumulation in in-use stocks and finally to outflows of wastes and emissions and provide a comprehensive picture of the evolution of societies metabolism during global industrialization. This enables outlooks on inflows and outflows, which environmental policy makers require for pursuing strategies towards a more sustainable resource use. Over the whole time period, we observe a growth in global material extraction by a factor of 12 to 89 Gt/yr. A shift from materials for dissipative use to stock building materials resulted in a massive increase of in-use stocks of materials to 961 Gt in 2015. Since materials increasingly accumulate in stocks, outflows of wastes are growing at a slower pace than inputs. In 2015, outflows amounted to 58 Gt/yr, of which 35% were solid wastes and 25% emissions, the reminder being excrements, dissipative use and water vapor. Our results indicate a significant acceleration of global material flows since the beginning of the 21st century. We show that this acceleration, which took off in 2002, was not a short-term phenomenon but continues since more than a decade. Between 2002 and 2015, global material extraction increased by 53% in spite of the 2008 economic crisis. Based on detailed data on material stocks and flows and information on their long-term historic development, we make a rough estimate of what a global convergence of metabolic patterns at the current level in industrialized countries paired with a continuation of past efficiency gains might imply for global material demand. We find that in such a scenario until 2050 average global metabolic rates double to 22 t/cap/yr and material extraction increases to around 218 Gt/yr. Overall the analysis indicates a grand challenge calling for urgent action, fostering a continuous and considerable reduction of material flows to acceptable levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospects for long-term sustainability depend on whether, and how much, we can absolutely decouple economic output from total energy and material throughput. While relative decoupling has occurred – that is, resource use has grown less quickly than the economy – absolute decoupling has not, raising the question whether it is possible. This paper proposes a novel explanation for why decoupling has not happened historically, drawing on a recent theory of cost-share induced productivity change and an extension of post-Keynesian pricing theory to natural resources. Cost-share induced productivity change and pricing behavior set up two halves of a dynamic, which we explore from a post-Keynesian perspective. In this dynamic, resource costs as a share of GDP move toward a stable level, at which the growth rate of resource productivity is typically less than the growth rate of GDP. This provides a parsimonious explanation of the prevalence of relative over absolute decoupling. The paper then presents some illustrative applications of the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw materials deemed critical are defined as having potential issues in their supply, limited substitutes, and applications of importance, namely in clean energy, defense, healthcare, and electronics. Disruptions in supply of critical materials can have serious negative repercussions for firms, consumers, and economies. One potential set of mitigation strategies for firms dealing with criticality issues is the implementation of circular economy principles in their supply chain, operations, and end-of-life management. This work conducts a literature review combined with case study analysis to examine how certain firms assess and monitor their vulnerability to critical material supply chain issues and provides specific business examples for integrating circularity strategies. Results indicate the potential for risk reduction that could be gained from implementation of these strategies; specifically recycling, for example, can provide an in-house source (for prompt or fabrication scrap) or at least domestic source (for post-consumer scrap) for critical materials; up to 24% for the case of indium usage in China. Just in time manufacturing techniques have the potential to both exacerbate supply issues (by encouraging low inventory or needed resources for manufacturing) and improve supply issues by introducing resiliency in the supply chain indicating that approach of firms in undertaking these strategies is important. Many cases reviewed show other quantifiable secondary benefits beyond risk reduction, such as economic savings, reduction in energy consumption, and improved corporate social responsibility via enhanced supply chain oversight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the relationship between sustainability and dematerialization is discussed. More specifically, the sufficient conditions are presented for a sustainability problem to be reduced into a dematerialization one. Furthermore, the rebound effects are introduced in an analytical way. Also, the knowledge embedded through design and manufacturing into the product is discussed and its quantification is linked with dematerialization. An evolution-based analysis has been performed in an attempt to extract meaningful correlations between the aforementioned metrics. Additive Manufacturing is discussed as an example in all the above considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing material efficiency, or material productivity, is essential for decoupling resource depletion and associated environmental pressures from economic development. This paper reviews the historical evolution of indicators monitoring material efficiency, their underpinning methodologies and major findings in the past three decades. Early studies investigated the material-economy relationship through intensity of use (IU) of some selected single materials. Economy-wide material flow accounting (EW-MFA) established a standardized framework for aggregating overall material inputs into an economy. Consumption-based material footprint (MF) analysis extended the system boundary to cover global resource extraction along supply chains to satisfy final consumption. Studies on material cycles (MC), especially metal cycles, further helped trace all major life cycle stages of anthropogenic material use, with the capability to account for in-use stocks of materials and products. Impact-based indicators investigate the opportunities to reduce negative environmental, social and economic impacts of material use, which is the ultimate purpose of improving material efficiency. Monitoring material efficiency with different indicators might lead to very different conclusions regarding a society’s dependence on material and its dematerialization trend. We present a generalized framework for constructing all kinds of material efficiency/productivity indicators and make the case that election of indicators should be problem-oriented and policy-relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in investigating the complex link between resources and developments has revived recently following studies which support striking “dematerialized” growth over the last hundred years or so. This so-called decoupling effect is defined as the declining quantity of resources required for producing one unit of GDP. Decoupling studies adopt aggregate GDP as the measure of the outcome of the economy. However, this outcome is contributed by the total population which differs over time and between countries. A valid comparison should use a comparable, standardized indicator that adjusts for population size. GDP per capita, the income index, defines in monetary terms the ultimate outcome of the economy and is adopted by international organizations as the standard index for comparing economies. The income index approximates, in monetary terms, the welfare produced by the economic system and enjoyed by individuals. Recently developed alternative indexes of welfare lack broad data coverage and have limited empirical application as yet. For this reason and for ensuring direct comparison with the standard decoupling estimates, our study remains within the monetary context. The present paper re-evaluates the resources-economy link from the perspective of “the resources required for the production of one unit of GDP per capita (Income)” and hence evaluates the efficiency of turning resources into the actual outcome of the economic system. Our estimates suggest that the dependence of global economic growth on natural resources has increased by over 60% in the last 110 years (1900–2009), contrasting with the prevailing decoupling estimates which suggest a reduction by 63%. We find that the actual decoupling, which began in the mid-1970s in post-industrial economies, is counterbalanced by the intensified resource intensity of several developing economies. Accordingly, in the pursuit of sustainability, the dematerialization target needs to be more clearly incorporated into environmental policies and pervade contemporary economic thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colour in variety of art expression can be interpreted differently. This study is aiming at analyzing the colour dematerialization of Javanese spiritual literature "Falsafah Jeroning Warna" by Suprapto Kadis and a painting by Ahmad Sadali entitled "Gunung Mas". Research was done by employing qualitative research, while data was collected by observation, interview, discussion, and documentation study. The analysis of meanings in the two art works was done in descriptive way by using the theory and the knowledge of tasawwuf or sufism, the aesthetics and arts. Results showed that both sufis, Ahmad Sadali and Suprapto Kadis, share similarities in doing dematerialization towards colour. For them, colour was initially taken from nature (the external territory) which then experienced dematerialization when it made contact with inspiration that was created from the internal area (mental). On the other hand, the difference between the two art works lies on an understanding that colour in FJW is naturalistic mimesis in nature, meanwhile, the painting of Ahmad Sadali is naturaly abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue d'Économie Régionale & urbaine is the property of Librairie Armand Colin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The concept Material Input per Service Unit (MIPS) was developed 20 years ago as a measure for the overall natural resource use of products and services. The material intensity analysis is used to calculate the material footprint of any economic activities in production and consumption. Environmental assessment has developed extensive databases for life cycle inventories, which can additionally be adopted for material intensity analysis. Based on practical experience in measuring material footprints on the micro level, this paper presents the current state of research and methodology development: it shows the international discussions on the importance of accounting methodologies to measure progress in resource efficiency. The MIPS approach is presented and its micro level application for assessing value chains, supporting business management, and operationalizing sustainability strategies is discussed. Linkages to output-oriented Life Cycle Assessment as well as to Material Flow Analysis (MFA) at the macro level are pointed out. Finally we come to the conclusion that the MIPS approach provides relevant knowledge on resource and energy input at the micro level for fact-based decision-making in science, policy, business, and consumption.

In the article “Inne życie wiersza – Darek Foks” focuses on the description of a postmodern poem as an object saturated with life, reified and anthropomorphized. The phenomenon of the recurrent reification, the inclusion in the context of cultural processes aimed at dematerialization of medium is shown on the example of the poetry by Darek Foks. What must be emphasised is the principle of a totemic thinking determining the process of reification in the poetry of this author.

Recycling of steelmaking slags has well-established applications, such as their use in cement, asphalt, or fertilizer industries. Although in some cases, such as the electric arc furnace (EAF) high-alloyed stainless-steel production, the slag’s high metal content prevents its use in such applications. This forces companies to accumulate it as waste. Using concepts such dematerialization, waste management, industrial symbiosis, and circular economy, the article drafts a conceptual framework on the best route to solving the landfilling issue, aiming at a zero-waste process re-design. An experimental part follows, with an investigation of the use of landfill slag as a substitute of limestone for the neutralization of acidic wastewater, produced by the rinsing of steel after the pickling process. Neutralization of acidic wastewater with both lime and slag samples was performed with two different methods. Two out of four slag samples tested proved their possible use, reaching desired pH values compared to lime neutralizations. Moreover, the clean waters resulting from the neutralizations with the use of both lime and slag were tested. In terms of hazardous element concentrations, neutralization with slag yielded similar results to lime. The results of these trials show that slag is a potential substitute of lime for the neutralization of acidic wastewater.

Dematerialization at the national level occurs almost exclusively during periods of economic recession or low growth. While recession is not a sustainable strategy to curb environmental impact, such periods may offer important insights on the possibilities of reducing material use. Economic recession research has focused on the interactions between macroeconomic and financial variables with little systematic research dedicated to uncovering how resource use develops during periods of recession. Using a dynamic panel model, we investigate whether and to what extent material use in a sample of 150 economies between 1970 and 2010 was affected by recession and low growth. Recession occurred most frequently and in more than two thirds of all countries during the 1980s and the 1990s. In the 2000s, more than half of the recessions occurred during the financial crisis of 2008. Periods of recession were significantly and negatively correlated with material use - they tended to coincide with dematerialization. Material use decreased in recession years, but the significant correlations with growth in material use became weaker as growth rates increased. Construction minerals and metals, used to build stocks of manufactured capital, reacted more strongly to economic fluctuations than the throughput-dominated flows of biomass and fossil fuels. We conclude that the systematic link between recession and dematerialization can become policy-relevant if the mechanisms causing reductions in material use during these periods are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article substantiates the necessity of solving motor transport problems of the society using the model of solidarization of motor transport in the context of urban management based on the introduction of smart-city system. In the article have been considered the essence of the newest concept for scientific thought in Ukraine of joint use of vehicles (car-sharing). The author systematized and supplemented the types of effects caused by the system of joint use of automobiles, including ecological, economic and social ones. The ecological-economic effects on the basis of reversed losses from atmospheric air emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between material cycles and economic growth is essential for relieving environmental pressures associated with material extraction, production, and consumption. We developed an integrated analytical framework of dematerialization analysis incorporating both material flow and stock indicators. A four-quadrant diagram is designed to classify different stages of dematerialization based on the elasticity of material flow/stock to economic output or well-being. We then conducted a case study on the long-term evolution of aluminum cycle in the U.S., and found that different material flow and stock indicators decoupled from gross domestic product (GDP) growth in a clear sequential pattern. Flows closer to the beginning of the aluminum cycle (e.g., primary aluminum production) decoupled from GDP earlier than flows closer to the final consumption stage (e.g., consumption of final products). In-use stock of aluminum decoupled from GDP much more slowly than any flow indicator, and had just reached the status of relative decoupling around 2000. This phenomenon is determined by the fact that different causes of dematerialization, such as import substitution and secondary material recycling, take effect at different stages of economic development. Comprehensive understanding of dematerialization depends on in-depth analysis on material-economy relationships from an integrated stock and flow perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dematerialization is a paradigm in resource conservation strategies. Material use should be reduced so that resource consumption as a whole can be lowered. The benefit for humankind should be completely decoupled from the natural expenditure by a definite factor X. Instinctively, this approach is convincing, because our entire value-added chain is based on material transformation. Targets for mass-based indicators are found within the context of justification for ecological carrying capacity and intergenerational fairness, taking into account the economic and socio-political expectation of raw material scarcity. However, in light of further development of material flow indicators and the related dematerialization targets, the question arises as to what they actually stand for and what significance they have for resource conservation. Can it be assumed that pressure on the environment will decline steadily if the use of materials is reduced, whether for an economy or at the level of individual products or processes? The present narrative review paper has discussed this issue and takes into account the authors' experience of the extended political and scientific discourse on dematerialization in Germany and Europe. As a result, a high "resource relevance" cannot be inferred from high physical material inputs at any of the levels considered. It has been shown that establishing mass-based indicators as control and target variables is questionable and that dematerialization exclusively based on such indicators without mapping other resources should be critically examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary empirical studies on the resource intensity of the economic process provide evidence of a gradual de-linking between natural resources use and economic growth. Resource intensity is evaluated through the Domestic Material Consumption/Gross Domestic Product (DMC/GDP) ratio, defined as the material intensity index. Trajectories of this ratio support the optimistic view that economic output is becoming progressively less dependent on resource flows, hence GDP is gradually dematerialized. The present study asserts that the DMC/GDP indicator fails to take into account the biophysical properties of the production process which define the resource requirements of the economy. The present study proposes the 'resources required for producing one unit of GDP per Capita (Income)', as an alternative indicator for evaluating the resource requirements of the economy. The resource requirement, evaluated at the level of income, approximates the human scale of production; goods should embody certain biophysical properties in order to satisfy human needs. The trajectories of DMC/Income index for global growth rejects the vision of a dematerialized growth and the de-linkage of the economy from natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]