Paradigm for Substance Flow Analyses

Appendix 3

SFA System Definiton Table

The System Definition Table at the next page is meant to facilitate the delimitation of the analyses when SFA projects are initiated. In the following a number of questions that may be helpful for the delimitation is listed.

SFA or consumption assessment?

Is it actually a substance flow analysis that is needed or would information on the consumption of the substance in Denmark be satisfactory?

Level of detail

Is the aim of the analysis to provide a basis for action plans and regulation of the substance or is it to provide a preliminary overview?

Extensions
-international perspective

Is it expected that imported finished products account for the main part of the Danish consumption of the substance? Is it expected that the Danish consumption of the substance will be significantly different from the consumption in other EU Member States?

- exposure

Is there a limited knowledge about the exposure of man by use and disposal of finished product? Is it expected that the substance will be released at significant levels during use?

- future emissions

Is it expected that emissions and loss of the substance in the near future will be significantly different from the emissions and loss today? Would this influence the decisions to be taken now?

- national and international regulation

Is there a need for an overview over national and international regulation on the use of the substance?

- assessment of substitutes

Could the lack of substitutes be an obstacle for the regulation of the substance? Should development of substitutes be financially supported?

- recycling and downcycling

Is the present recycling of the substance or the materials containing the substance in fact a downcycling? Does the present procedures for collection and recycling of the materials containing the substance lead to deterioration of the materials?

-occurrence and fate in the environment

Is there a need of an overview of the occurrence of the substance in the environment?

Focus areas

- marginal applications

Does considerable knowledge already exist about the main fields of application and is there a need for very specific information on marginal applications e.g. because regulation of the use of the substance is under consideration?

- specific compounds

Are there particular environmental or health problems in connection to the use of specific substances within the substance group?

- chemical state of emitted compounds

Are there specific environmental or health problems, which are dependent on the chemical state of the emitted compounds?

- parts of the life cycle

Are there specific environmental or health problems connected to a particular stage of the life cycle: Production, use, or disposal?

Substance:
Type of analysis	Substance flow analysis
	Consumption assessment
Level of detail and reliability	Detailed analysis
	Overview analysis
	Other level of detail and reliability
Extensions	International market and trends in consumption, derailed analysis
	Qualitative description of the exposure of man by use and disposal of finished products
	Scenarios for future emissions and loss of the substance
	Simple scenarios
	Detailed scenarios
	Number of application areas covered
	Occurrence and fate in the environment
	National and international regulation on the use of the substance
	Assessment of substitutes
	Number of application areas covered
	Specification of levels 1)
	Recycling, downcycling and material deterioration
	Other extensions
Focus areas	Specific compounds within the substance group
	Consumption with marginal applications
	Chemical state of emitted compounds
	Consumption with finished goods
	Disposal with solid waste
	Emission from products in use
	Danish production
	Other parts of the life cycle

Table 2
SFA System Definition Table

1) A table for specification of the levels of the substitution assessment is included in Appendix 1, section 3.7.4