1Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

Promoting sustainability in aggregate supply –a Finnish case study

Mika Räisänen and Hannu IdmanGeological Survey of Finland

2Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

OUTLINE

Introduction: Sustainable development in the context of mineral supply

Present situation of aggregate production in Finland

Promoting sustainability in aggregate supply of the Finnish society

Future challenges

3Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

Non-extinguishable resources Extinguishableresources

Flow resources: solar, wind, wave, rainwater

Reservoirs: air (oxygen, CO2), oceans (water), geothermal energy

Biological resources: forests, fish, biomass

Reservoirs: fresh water basins, aquifers, fertile soil

Recyclable resources: metals

Recoverable Resources: other minerals, land

Non-renewable and non- recoverable resources: fossil fuels: oil, gas, coalN

on-r

enew

able

res

ourc

esR

enew

able

re

sou

rces

aggregates

NON-RENEWABLE AGGREGATES Data from EuroGeoSurveys

4Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

2005 2030

1

2Economic Growth

Growth of resource use

Growth of env’l impacts

Relative decoupling

Absolute decoupling

Thematic strategy for sustainable management of Natural Resources

• Basic challenge in combining: - growing economy - developing society - sound environment

• Basic question: how can we as geoscientists promote decoupling?

PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN MINERAL SUPPLY

5Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

Basic features of the geology of Finland

Neogene (Quaternary)Loose Sediments• Derived from Last Glaciation • Moraine, Clay, Sand & Gravel,Peat

Precambrian Crystalline Basement• From Archean to Proterozoic in Age• Granitoids, Schists, Gneisses and Migmatites

PRESENT SITUATION OF AGGREGATE PRODUCTION IN FINLAND

6Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

• Production ca. 100 million tonnes/year

• 18 tonnes/capita

• Based almost entirely on:- sand and gravel deposits- crushed rock

• Use of aggregates concentrated in urban (growth) areas

• 2/3 is used for public applications

• Road construction (50%), building of houses (15 %), asphalt pavements 10 (%), concrete (10 %), and other (15 %)

UTILISATION OF AGGREGATES

7Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

Natural resources: cover >> 95% of aggregate productionLeft-over resources: inefficiently used potential

8Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

Resulting in . . .

- shortage of accessible natural materials at urban growth areas

- continuous increase in transportation distances

- increase of harmful effects from transportation (costs, emissions, noise, dust, traffic)

- negative effects on construction industry, infrastructure, to functioning of society…..

9Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN AGGREGATE SUPPLY

HOW?

1) By developing an accounting system that incorporates- data on natural aggregate resources- data on usage restrictions (e.g. natural protection areas)- data on left-over materials and industrial by-products- monitoring of extraction and utilisation

2) Optimising the usage of left-over materials and super quarries

- the concept of centralised production areas (super quarries) and aggregate terminals

- quality control of aggregate production as a basis for CE-labelled left-over aggregates

- reclamation of quarries and end-use application of quarries (recreational, land fill areas, industrial and housing areas etc.)

10Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

WHO DOES IT?

• Environmental authorities and land use planners- environmental and land use data

• Aggregate companies- yearly information of extracted materials

• Geological Survey of Finland- data on resources- data management and interpretation- accountancy services for users

• good collaboration of stakeholders is needed• legislative modifications also needed

11Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

WHAT THE SYSTEM PRODUCES?• On-line information of aggregate resources and substitute materials (quality, amount, location, usability)• On-line information on construction material flows• A tool for decision-making

HOW CAN IT BE USED?• Via Internet

WHO ARE THE USERS?• Environmental and quarry permit authorities• Land-use planners• Aggregate producers

WHEN IT WILL BE READY?• For the natural aggregates in 2008• The substitute mineral materials to be integrated in following 2-3 years

12Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

FUTURE CHALLENGES

• The system provides an accounting system for natural aggregate resources and their substitutes and the system should be developed towards a comprehensive environmental accounting system that incorporates:

- aggregate resources (natural, substitutes)- utilisation and future consumption predictions

HOWEVER• Methodological development is needed for:

- valuation of aggregate stocks- environmental impacts also in monetary terms- cost analysis of the other environmental values (e.g. scenic values, dust, and noise, eco-efficiency of by-products).

13Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

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20

40

60

80

100

120

SUMMARY: VISION OF THE FUTURE

Utilisation of aggregates in Finland 1988 - 2030

1988 1995 2000

2005

Natural aggregatesLeft-over materials (minerals and substitutes)

2010

2020

2030

International research cooperation IGC 2008 Theme sustainable development and environment

14Sustainable resource management, raw material security........ December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium

Thank you for your attention!