MFA

Question 1

What is MFA

Answer 1

Material flow analysis - the assessment of flows and stocks of materials within a system.

Question 2

Functional Recycling

Answer 2

Using a material for its specialist qualities.

Question 3

Non-functional recycling

Answer 3

Using a material in a function where it is not necessarily needed.

Question 4

Substance

Answer 4

Uniform material (chemical, element).

Question 5

Product

Answer 5

Made up of substances (not homogeneous), an economic entity.

Question 6

Cross/trade flows

Answer 6

Flows across system boundaries.

Question 7

Motivation for MFA

Answer 7

To locate where major reserves of materials are.
To identify areas to use materials more efficiently.
To identify material leaks (dissipation).
To develop resource sustainability indicators.

Question 8

Uses of MFA

Answer 8

Army - to know what materials they need to stockpile for emergencies.
Investors - to know the supply and demand.
Companies - to make business decisions.
To both asess the impact and make policies.

Question 9

Types of process units in MFA

Answer 9

Transformative - turning input into output.
Distributive - a tool to help carry out MFA. Used for proportioning between transformative processes. Useful when you don’t know a products exact destination or origin.
Storage - Where the withdrawals and deposits of stock occur.