Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ORAMA (Optimising quality of information in RAw MAterials data collection across Europe)
Berichtszeitraum: 2019-06-01 bis 2019-11-30
The ORAMA project worked to optimise the data collection for primary and secondary raw materials in EU Member States. The development of the EU knowledge base on primary and secondary raw materials has been commenced by a series of European-funded projects. ORAMA continued this development by addressing specific challenges related to data availability, geographical coverage, accessibility, standardisation, harmonisation, interoperability, quality and thematic coverage in Member States.
It is important that the raw materials data sit in pan-European datasets, such as the EU Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EURMKB), which feeds into the Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The data must also be of high quality and up-to-date, because they foster better raw materials policies. The freely available data may also have other uses, e.g. by the mining industry or in education. In the long-term, this will help to secure sustainable access to primary and secondary raw materials and, particularly, Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for the EU economy. The project is important to those involved in sourcing raw materials and enables a better understanding of their availability and location. Importantly, it also worked towards comparison of primary (PRM) and secondary raw material (SRM) sources, facilitating the identification of business opportunities relating to the substitution of primary raw materials with secondary.
The overall (high-level) objectives of ORAMA were: 1) to develop a clear strategy that seeks to improve the quality of raw materials data and harmonise the data in accordance with INSPIRE legislation, and 2) to ensure and extend the sharing of raw materials data, information and best practices in data collection among Member States and at EU level.
In conclusion, the ORAMA project recommends the establishment of more structured and continuous funding for realising and maintaining a European data infrastructure for tracking both PRM and SRM. The current project-by-project based financing is insufficient and not sustainable to properly track and understand Europe’s strengths and weaknesses in the early resource intensive stages of global supply chains.
It is important that the raw materials data sit in pan-European datasets, such as the EU Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EURMKB), which feeds into the Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The data must also be of high quality and up-to-date, because they foster better raw materials policies. The freely available data may also have other uses, e.g. by the mining industry or in education. In the long-term, this will help to secure sustainable access to primary and secondary raw materials and, particularly, Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for the EU economy. The project is important to those involved in sourcing raw materials and enables a better understanding of their availability and location. Importantly, it also worked towards comparison of primary (PRM) and secondary raw material (SRM) sources, facilitating the identification of business opportunities relating to the substitution of primary raw materials with secondary.
The overall (high-level) objectives of ORAMA were: 1) to develop a clear strategy that seeks to improve the quality of raw materials data and harmonise the data in accordance with INSPIRE legislation, and 2) to ensure and extend the sharing of raw materials data, information and best practices in data collection among Member States and at EU level.
In conclusion, the ORAMA project recommends the establishment of more structured and continuous funding for realising and maintaining a European data infrastructure for tracking both PRM and SRM. The current project-by-project based financing is insufficient and not sustainable to properly track and understand Europe’s strengths and weaknesses in the early resource intensive stages of global supply chains.
Organisations collecting PRM data and different data collection methods were analysed. Good practise guidelines and recommendations around how to improve the datasets have been created. Available datasets on social and environmental aspects of extraction have been studied. Data on resources and reserves of PRM need to be harmonised before information from individual deposits can be aggregated into reliable national, and pan-European statistics. The harmonisation can be done through converting data, where they already exist, into a common reporting system. United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) is recommended to be used as the common reporting code, and guidance for conversions from other reporting codes have been provided.
For the SRM, the available data sources, key players in data collection and data collection practices have been studied, and data gaps and data collection barriers identified. The challenges identified are: 1) For mining waste, lack of information on deposit characteristics and the lack of reporting standards accepted at EU level. 2) For the electrical and electronic equipment and batteries, beyond the lack of harmonisation, substantial data gaps exist for the market inputs, materials consumption and stocks. 3) For WEEE, there are large unaccounted material flows ending up being scavenged, metal scrap and export channels. 4) For vehicles, huge amounts of data on stocks, flows and composition are only publicly available in a too aggregated form or not at all.
Structuring of the recommendations per waste sector has been made as short and long term strategies to enhance data quality and availability with regard to: 1) product compositions and mining waste content, 2) stocks and (waste) flows information, and 3) final recovery rates for (re)processing for relevant commodities. Six case studies showcase the best practices of collection and harmonisation of data on WEEE, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and mining waste, and the benefits of the suggested improvements.
INSPIRE compliance of selected recommendations for PRM and SRM data improvements has been verified. On-the-fly Sankey diagrams representing material and product stocks and flows for selected cases and substances and visualisation and portrayals of selected datasets on social and environmental aspects of extraction have been prepared.
The best practices that the project has identified and the new recommendations have been refined into training material and into technical guidelines.
EU projects and initiatives most relevant to ORAMA were mapped to ensure the effective two-way exchange of data, knowledge and results. Clustering and training events have been organised. Objectives, progress and results of the project have been disseminated in the project website and in conferences, newsletters and social media. Communication and dissemination are needed also after the end of the project.
For the SRM, the available data sources, key players in data collection and data collection practices have been studied, and data gaps and data collection barriers identified. The challenges identified are: 1) For mining waste, lack of information on deposit characteristics and the lack of reporting standards accepted at EU level. 2) For the electrical and electronic equipment and batteries, beyond the lack of harmonisation, substantial data gaps exist for the market inputs, materials consumption and stocks. 3) For WEEE, there are large unaccounted material flows ending up being scavenged, metal scrap and export channels. 4) For vehicles, huge amounts of data on stocks, flows and composition are only publicly available in a too aggregated form or not at all.
Structuring of the recommendations per waste sector has been made as short and long term strategies to enhance data quality and availability with regard to: 1) product compositions and mining waste content, 2) stocks and (waste) flows information, and 3) final recovery rates for (re)processing for relevant commodities. Six case studies showcase the best practices of collection and harmonisation of data on WEEE, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and mining waste, and the benefits of the suggested improvements.
INSPIRE compliance of selected recommendations for PRM and SRM data improvements has been verified. On-the-fly Sankey diagrams representing material and product stocks and flows for selected cases and substances and visualisation and portrayals of selected datasets on social and environmental aspects of extraction have been prepared.
The best practices that the project has identified and the new recommendations have been refined into training material and into technical guidelines.
EU projects and initiatives most relevant to ORAMA were mapped to ensure the effective two-way exchange of data, knowledge and results. Clustering and training events have been organised. Objectives, progress and results of the project have been disseminated in the project website and in conferences, newsletters and social media. Communication and dissemination are needed also after the end of the project.
The systematic analysis of the current situation with PRM and SRM data shows clear potential for improvement. ORAMA has formulated recommendations, technical guidelines and training materials that will improve both quality of the data sets and harmonisation levels. Recommendations and the best practices identified have been evaluated against the INSPIRE Directive to ensure compatibility with it. These will result in enhanced data availability and quality in RMIS 2.0.
Demonstrations on PRM and SRM datasets have been completed. Training of those collecting and providing data and the dissemination of project results will continue also afterwards through the availability of the training and demonstration materials in the public domain. The demonstrations for PRM include harvesting of aggregated datasets for selected commodities and for SRM development of on-the-fly Sankey diagrams visualising the stock and flow data on the national level. In addition, visualisation of selected datasets associated with the environmental and social aspects of exploitation of primary resources is a significant step forward in terms of improving accessibility and comparability of these data, thus assisting with the mitigation of negative environmental and social impacts and the promotion of positive impacts.
The following four major impacts of ORAMA can be identified. ORAMA 1) contributes to the objectives of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials, in particular, the sustainable supply of raw materials, the diversification of raw materials sourcing, and the improvement of resource efficiency including recycling, by enhancing the knowledge of raw materials information. 2) Supports informed decision making by authorities and the industry at EU and global level due to the availability of optimised data, which is likely to result in the creation of new jobs and the opening of new markets. 3) Promotes the European raw materials sector and enhances the competitiveness of the sector by making harmonised data on raw materials and associated social and environmental aspects available for investors. 4) Contributes to the implementation of the circular economy action plan by substantially enhancing the knowledge base of raw materials supply information in Europe.
Demonstrations on PRM and SRM datasets have been completed. Training of those collecting and providing data and the dissemination of project results will continue also afterwards through the availability of the training and demonstration materials in the public domain. The demonstrations for PRM include harvesting of aggregated datasets for selected commodities and for SRM development of on-the-fly Sankey diagrams visualising the stock and flow data on the national level. In addition, visualisation of selected datasets associated with the environmental and social aspects of exploitation of primary resources is a significant step forward in terms of improving accessibility and comparability of these data, thus assisting with the mitigation of negative environmental and social impacts and the promotion of positive impacts.
The following four major impacts of ORAMA can be identified. ORAMA 1) contributes to the objectives of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials, in particular, the sustainable supply of raw materials, the diversification of raw materials sourcing, and the improvement of resource efficiency including recycling, by enhancing the knowledge of raw materials information. 2) Supports informed decision making by authorities and the industry at EU and global level due to the availability of optimised data, which is likely to result in the creation of new jobs and the opening of new markets. 3) Promotes the European raw materials sector and enhances the competitiveness of the sector by making harmonised data on raw materials and associated social and environmental aspects available for investors. 4) Contributes to the implementation of the circular economy action plan by substantially enhancing the knowledge base of raw materials supply information in Europe.