The need for innovative processes such as VAMOS to reduce our material footprint
VAMOS is a demonstration project supported by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. VAMOS is a consortium of partners including Oakdene Hollins, Fiberight, Imperial College London, AEP Polymers, ifeu, CPI, Knauf, EW Biotech, TCKT, Celignis, Novoenzymes and Aberystwyth Univeristy.
The goal of VAMOS is to produce and valorise second-generation sugars from municipal solid waste. One of the VAMOS products are residual solids which will be used to create energy products, grouts, adhesives and polyurethane foams that could be utilised in the construction industries. These could be used in replace of raw materials and therefore could support a reduction in raw material use.
Innovative solutions which reduce waste and employ circularity are critical in supporting a reduction in our material footprint. If you want to learn more about the VAMOS process or how Oakdene Hollins could support your company understanding and implementing more sustainable and circular practices, do get in touch.
The context for the VAMOS project is the publication by Defra on 9th August 2023, on England's Material Footprint. This piece becomes a timely snapshot of some of our progress to sustainability as we mark halfway of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Data on material flows in the UK are compiled in the national Material Flow Accounts. These track primary raw material extraction within domestic boundaries, in addition to headline indicators adjusted for the raw materials and products physically crossing national borders. Demand or consumption-based accounting involves reallocating environmental pressures or change linked to the production of goods and services, to sources of final demand rather than location of associated extraction, emission, or occurrence. The ‘material footprint’ specifically, is a measure of the global primary raw material extraction attributable to final domestic demand for goods and services by the residents of an institutional unit, typically a nation, in this case England.
It is also important to consider here that although the report also shows material footprint, it does not show the carbon footprint associated with these. The carbon footprint will vary per material and therefore, does not show us which is material is the biggest contributor to emissions. Material footprints however can give us an understanding of where we should implement circular economy practices such as value retention and life extension to move away from raw material use.
There were six key messages outlined in the update. The Material footprint was over a third (35%) lower at 783 million tonnes in 2020 than in 2004 at 1202 million tonnes. Of this 783 million tonnes in 2020, fossil fuels made up 15% of materials (falling by 42% in absolute terms between 2001 and 2020) which is the lowest seen since the assessment begun in 2001.
Fossil fuels are used across industry, production and transport sectors on a commercial and consumer basis. This therefore hopefully shows that these and other industries and people are moving away from fossil fuel dependence. However, the report also shows that we are not making making significant changes to reduce our non-metallic mineral footprint, which is much higher than that of fossil fuels.
Non-metallic minerals have historically, and still are in the 2020 data, the most significant contributor to material footprint, making up 57% of the footprint in 2020. So why is no one talking about non-metallic metals?
Non-metallic minerals are a group of elements from which no new product can be generated if they are melted. This might include sand, gravel limestone, clay and marble which have uses commonly as cement, bricks, refectories and concrete within construction industries.
The graph on England's material footprint from 2001 to 2020 shows variations in non-metallic minerals, dipping in the financial crashes, but rising again soon after. From 2013 to 2020, there was an increase in material footprint of non-metallic minerals of 81 million tonnes. The largest consumer of non-metallic minerals was gross fixed capital, followed by households.
Gross fixed capital is comprised of the purchases of material and intangible fixed assets in an economy in an accounting period. Largely made up of investment in the business sector such as in machinery and equipment. Purchases of dwellings by households are also captured here, as is general government expenditure on infrastructure and other forms of fixed assets.
What does this tells us? Construction and infrastructure needs to change within England. In 2020, the Global Cement and Concrete Association agreed a climate ambition launch to enhance the industry's commitment to drive down its carbon footprint in line with the SDGs. In this, they set the aim of achieving carbon neutral concrete by 2050. But what about its material footrprint? It would be hoped that by reducing carbon footprint, we would also see a decrease in material footprint by reducing the use of unsustainable and raw materials. But, it should also be considered that the materials used are designed for longevity and for minimising raw material use. VAMOS and its inherent focus on utilising producing second generation sugars from waste, could therefore support a move away from using raw materials and thus support a reduction in material footprint.
Considering that under the current system, it takes an average of five years for a standard housing development to go through the planning system before work can commence to start building, we must take actions now to decrease material footprint in the houses which will be built from now and past 2050. The VAMOS products could thereby support a reduction in England’s material footprint for non-metallic minerals. VAMOS is therefore well placed to support the construction industry in its transition to the circular economy.
To learn more about the VAMOS project, or about how Oakdene Hollins could support you, get in touch using the details below.