Resource depletion

What is resource depletion?

Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. Natural resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources).

Types of depletion

• Aquifer depletion (Aquifier is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials like gravel, sand, or silt.)
• Deforestation
• Mining for fossil fuels and minerals
• Pollution or contamination of resources
• Slash-and-burn agricultural practices
• Soil erosion / degradation
• Excessive or unnecessary use of resources.

What should be improved to reduce or stop resource depletion?

Resource efficiency means using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner while minimising impacts on the environment. It allows us to create more with less and to deliver greater value with less input.

There are the ways resource efficiency can be accomplished?

• Material efficiency
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency

Type of Materials where resource efficiency can be reached?

• Raw materials
  • Plant/tree-based – materials like vegetables, fruits, flowers, wood, resin, latex are obtained from plants and trees.
  • Animal-based– materials like leather, meat, bones, milk, wool, silk are all obtained from animals.
  • Mining-based– materials like minerals, metals, crude oil, coal, etc.
• Production Materials - components, subassemblies, parts, other supplies and any industrial services required for the manufacturing of Finished Goods and Shippers.
• Finished Goods - Finished goods are products that have completed all aspects of the production process, and which are being held for sale. A finished good can consist of one or more parts:
  • Durable: have a life span of over three(?) years and are used repeatedly over time.
  • Disposable: a product designed for a single use after which it is recycled or is disposed as solid waste. E.g. Wipes, Diapes, Toilet paper.
  • Consumable: Can be used only once, examples are food and detergents. E.g. Toothpaste, Soup, Detergent
  • Packaging: Used to transport use the durable, disposable or consumable. E.g. tube, bottle, carton
• Shippers - used for shipping, storing and displaying other material types.
  • Cases/cartons/trays /...
  • Displays
  • Dolly's & Pallets
  • Containers

Packaging

Packaging is a function fulfiller that is added to a product with the aim of allowing this product to bridge time and distance at the desired cost and environmental impact, whereby the packaging ensures that the end user can ultimately use the product in acceptable quality. (Source: Ten Klooster, 2008) Packaging fulfills the following functions for the packaged product:

• Packaging makes it possible to use the packaged product
• The packaging protects (preserves) the packaged product
• The packaging makes it possible to transport the product
• The packaging informs about the packed product.