Introduction Sustainable materials management

u.s. epa s smm lifecycle of materials , products material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use , end-of-life.

sustainable materials management (smm) represents framework sustainably manage materials , products throughout entire lifecycle, resource extraction, design , manufacturing, resource productivity, consumption , end-of-life management.

traditional patterns of material consumption in united states follow cradle-to-grave pattern of raw material extraction, product manufacturing, distribution consumers, use consumers, , disposal; coined story of stuff author annie leonard take-make-waste linear economy , commonly referred throw-away society, these familiar waste management practices being revised bring sustainable management of resources. smm represents shift in how materials used , valued focus on environmental impact of material use , environmental protection throughout entire lifecycle of product. smm has been adopted regulatory approach manage materials u.s. environmental protection agency (epa) , many other governments around world.

sustainable materials management broad approach overlaps , supplements many programs , concepts being adopted governments , business around world including 0 waste, green chemistry, eco-labeling, sustainable supply-chain management, lean manufacturing, green procurement, epa’s design environment program, g8’s 3r’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) program, unep’s sustainable production , consumption , sustainable resource management programs, , oecd’s sustainable materials management framework.

differences between waste management , smm

smm seeks highest use of resources while waste management focuses on managing , reducing waste , waste pollutants @ end of lifecycle
smm focuses on entire lifecycle of materials , products while waste management focuses on end-of life management of waste products
smm concerned inputs , outputs to/from environment , associated impacts air , water , not geographically constrained while waste management looks @ outputs environment waste , areas waste managed
smm’s overall goal long term sustainability while waste management focuses on managing 1 environmental impact, associated waste products
smm considers industries , consumers associated lifecycle of material , product responsible party waste management considers generators of waste responsible party




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^ problem: our take, make, waste economy . www.cradle2.org. 
^ sustainable materials management: road ahead 2009 - 2020 (pdf). retrieved 2016-12-05. 
^ sustainable materials management: road ahead 2009 - 2020 (pdf). www.epa.gov. retrieved 2016-12-04.