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 Idman Geological 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 resourcesExtinguishable resources 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, coal Non-renewable resources Renewable resources aggregates NON-RENEWABLE AGGREGATES Data from EuroGeoSurveys

4Sustainable resource management, raw material security December 6-7, 2006 in Bruges, Belgium Economic 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 production Left-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 SUMMARY: VISION OF THE FUTURE Utilisation of aggregates in Finland Natural aggregates Left-over materials (minerals and substitutes) 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!