1. Scope
This Practice describes a method for the calculation of the length of time any non-fuel mineral commodity can be extracted from its reserves and resources, for purposes of EPDs or LCAs....Using this Practice, certain factors applying to a mineral commodity can be examined to determine the life of its world resource: total amount of reserves and resources, amount extracted annually, amount annually recycled, amount annually displaced by substitutes, that dictate how long the worldwide resources will last.
This Practice originated because of the observation that many studies of resources and their depletion in connection with EPDs and LCAs assume that the total supply of a mineral commodity is extracted from reserves and resources and that no supply originates from recycling or no supply from substitutes of alternative materials. Such assumptions are wrong, and both factors must be taken into account. This Practice is important because it allows the calculation of the length of time a given non-fuel mineral commodity resource can be extracted before depletion after accounting for recycling and substitutes, for purposes of environmental product declarations or LCAs.
Keywords
resources; mineral commodities; extracted;
The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.
Citing ASTM Standards
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