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How to evaluate raw material vulnerability - An overview

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  • Helbig, Christoph
  • Wietschel, Lars
  • Thorenz, Andrea
  • Tuma, Axel

Abstract

Companies, economies and technologies are vulnerable to supply disruptions or price peaks of specific raw materials. Multiple research groups worldwide have proposed methodologies for determining the criticality of raw materials, including assessments on the vulnerability to supply restrictions. These raw material vulnerability assessments use manifold indicators but are not consistent concerning their selection, calculation, interpretation and weighting. Their indicators estimate a raw material’s economic importance or its significance for a strategic goal, or they inform regarding the impact of supply disruptions. Here, we provide an overview of 18 vulnerability assessments in 16 recent criticality studies. Our results reveal 18 different vulnerability indicators, among which a set of six indicators is frequently used and therefore might be recommended for decision makers. The range of possible vulnerability assessment results is exemplified by evaluations of the transition metal copper and the rare earth neodymium. Our overview can serve as a starting point for future raw material criticality assessments concerning the selection of vulnerability indicators and appropriate calculation and weighting methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Helbig, Christoph & Wietschel, Lars & Thorenz, Andrea & Tuma, Axel, 2016. "How to evaluate raw material vulnerability - An overview," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 13-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:48:y:2016:i:c:p:13-24
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2016.02.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Glöser, Simon & Tercero Espinoza, Luis & Gandenberger, Carsten & Faulstich, Martin, 2015. "Raw material criticality in the context of classical risk assessment," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 35-46.
    2. N.T. Nassar & Xiaoyue Du & T.E. Graedel, 2015. "Criticality of the Rare Earth Elements," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(6), pages 1044-1054, December.
    3. Achzet, Benjamin & Helbig, Christoph, 2013. "How to evaluate raw material supply risks—an overview," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 435-447.
    4. Goe, Michele & Gaustad, Gabrielle, 2014. "Identifying critical materials for photovoltaics in the US: A multi-metric approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 387-396.
    5. Roelich, Katy & Dawson, David A. & Purnell, Phil & Knoeri, Christof & Revell, Ruairi & Busch, Jonathan & Steinberger, Julia K., 2014. "Assessing the dynamic material criticality of infrastructure transitions: A case of low carbon electricity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 378-386.
    6. E. M. Harper & Goksin Kavlak & Lara Burmeister & Matthew J. Eckelman & Serkan Erbis & Vicente Sebastian Espinoza & Philip Nuss & T. E. Graedel, 2015. "Criticality of the Geological Zinc, Tin, and Lead Family," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(4), pages 628-644, August.
    7. Beylot, Antoine & Villeneuve, Jacques, 2015. "Assessing the national economic importance of metals: An Input–Output approach to the case of copper in France," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 161-165.
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