Import‐based Indicator for the Geopolitical Supply Risk of Raw Materials in Life Cycle Sustainability Assessments

• DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12279
• Publication Date: 2015-05-20T18:32:31Z
• Authors: Eskinder D. Gemechu; Christoph Helbig; Guido Sonnemann; Andrea Thorenz; Axel Tuma
• Keywords: Geopolitics; Scope (computer science); Material flow analysis

Summary There is a growing concern over the security and sustainable supply of raw material among businesses governments developed, material‐intensive countries. This has led to development systematic analysis risk incorporated with materials usage, often referred as criticality assessment. In principle, this concept based on flow approach. The potential role life cycle assessment (LCA) integrate resource through broadening its scope into sustainability (LCSA) framework been discussed within LCA communities for some time. article, we aim at answering question how proceed toward integration geopolitical aspect LCSA framework. article focuses 14 resources imported seven major advanced economies five most relevant emerging Unlike few previous studies, propose new method calculation risk, which differentiated by countries import patterns instead global production distribution. Our results suggest that rare earth elements, tungsten, antimony, beryllium generally pose high risk. Results from Monte Carlo simulation allow consideration data uncertainties result interpretation. Issues concerning full chain are exemplarily cobalt. research broadens only environmental performance supply‐risk tool includes accessibility owing political instability market concentration under