Materials Characterization

Materials characterization is a systematic process dedicated to the detailed examination and classification of physical objects within a standardized framework. This methodical approach is designed to ensure uniformity and precision in the analysis of materials, facilitating the derivation of actionable insights across various contexts. By adhering to universally applicable standards, this process enables the consistent identification, evaluation, and categorization of materials.

Utility States

Utility states are categories of materials based on their current potential and risks in the value chain. It encompasses three primary states—Resource, Neutrals, and Waste—each further divided to reflect the material's utility level and its implications.

• Resources: materials that have positive utility in their current state. Resources are essential inputs in all stages of production and consumption processes and are sought after for their value.
• Neutrals: materials that currently have neither positive nor negative utility; their presence does not significantly impact economic value.
• Waste: materials that have negative utility in their current state. Waste can result from production processes (production waste) or after the consumption of goods (consumption waste). It poses challenges in management and disposal due to its potential to harm the environment, the economy and public health.

State	Sub-State	Definition	Example
Resources	Raw Materials	Materials in their natural form, without value added by human processes.	Iron ore in mining, before being processed into steel.
	Intermediate Products	Materials that have been subject of value adding process but are not ready for sale and use by end-users.	Steel sheets used in the manufacturing of automobiles.
	Finished Products	Final goods ready for sale and use by end-users.	Automobiles available for sale to consumers.
	Unspecified Resources	Materials whose resource state is not clearly defined.	A microprocessor can be sold directly to the end consumer or used by an electronics manufacturer.
Neutrals	Inactive Neutrals	Materials with no immediate potential or risks, often abundant without current economic value.	Sand in a desert, plentiful and without direct use.
	Active Neutrals	Materials with balanced potential uses and risks of harm, with null or negligible economic value.	Recycled plastic pellets awaiting manufacturing into new products.
	Unspecified Neutrals	Materials in a neutral state without clear categorization into active or inactive.	Water in certain scenarios can be considered a neutral resource, its sub-status varying greatly according to contexts.
Waste	Production	Waste generated during the value adding process process, usually in production or distribution.	Offcuts and shavings from metalworking processes.
	Consumption	Waste generated in a value realization process, when a finished good or service is rendered useless of its primary function.	Used packaging materials discarded by consumers.
	Mixed Waste	Waste that contains both consumer and producer waste, without clear differentiation.	Mixed plastic waste includes include both packaging and industrial scrap.
	Unspecified Waste	Waste whose categorization is not clearly defined.	Mixed non-hazardous waste without clear origin.

Waste generated during the distribution phase is categorized as production waste, as it is generated by an activity that has the intent of adding value, rather than consumption which is equivalent to realizing value. This inclusion recognizes that waste from distribution is a part of the broader production process.

Materials

Recognizing the diversity of materials, the material taxonomy establishes a systematic approach and a universal language for material classification, independent of industry, jurisdiction, and regulation-specific terminologies.

The material taxonomy is a hierarchical structure to categorize materials in levels of increasing specificity.

The taxonomy presents the following key features:

• Each material is a specific extension of its parent product.
• Levels range from generic categories at the top to specific categories at the bottom.
• Materials within each level are comprehensive and non-overlapping.
• When uncertain, the more generic category applies.

LVL	Definition	Example
1	Undifferentiated materials.	Materials
2	Materials categorized by broad characteristics.	Inorganic Materials
3	Materials that share common properties and broad use cases.	Plastics
4	Materials that share chemical properties and composition.	PET Plastic

Products

Recognizing the diversity of products in the market, the product taxonomy establishes a systematic approach and a universal language for finished products classification.

The product taxonomy is a hierarchical structure to categorize finished products in levels of increasing specificity.

The taxonomy presents the following key features:

• Each product is a specific extension of its parent product.
• Levels range from generic categories at the top to specific categories at the bottom.
• Products within each level are comprehensive and non-overlapping.
• When uncertain, the more generic category applies.

LVL	Definition	Example
1	Undifferentiated finished products	Products
2	Classification based on the broad industry.	Electronics
3	Classification based on the general application.	Personal Care Devices
4	Classification based on specific functional classification.	Health Monitors
5	Classification based on the specific product type.	Scales

Durability Classes

Finished products may have different components, each designed for a purpose. Durability classes establish a systematic approach to categorize such components in terms of type of use.

Durability classes are categories for product component classification in terms of its type of consumption.

Class	Description	Example
Disposable	Components designed to be discarded after a single use, to improve logistics and distribution of the product.	Cardboard boxes and plastic wrapping used in product packaging.
Durable	Components of the product that have a longer usage life, beyond a one-time event.	Electronic devices that are long-lasting but are eventually rendered useless.
Consumable	Components that are intended to be depleted during the product's usage.	Ink inside a printer cartridge that is fully consumed during the product's use.

Complexity

Complexity is integral to waste management as it evaluates the efforts required to sort materials from complex products by separating their components. It indicates whether isolating materials from a product or waste stream is resource-intensive (high complexity) or relatively straightforward (low complexity).

Complexity is a quantifiable measure of the efforts required to separate individual material components from a composite product or waste stream.

While there are many methodologies to calculate material complexity, it is good practice to consider the following factors in the calculation method:

• Component Quantity. The number of different identifiable parts in a composite product or waste stream. A higher number of parts generally indicates greater complexity.
• Component Proportions. The ratio or percentage of each present component. Unequal proportions can add to the complexity, especially if minor components are difficult to separate.
• Material Proximity. The degree of similarity among the materials from each component, measured by their distance in the material taxonomy. The more distant the materials the higher the complexity.
• Component Intertwinement. The way in which components are combined or connected in a product or waste stream. Strongly bonded or intricately connected components pose higher complexity for separation.

Hazards

Hazards are essential to assess risks and the efficiency of risk control strategies. These properties are crucial indicators of the mechanisms by which potential waste can cause harm to exposed resources.

• Independency. The categorization of hazardous properties is based on the properties of waste, irrespective of the exposed resource.
• Applicability. These properties should only be applied to waste, as the relevance of hazardous properties emerges when there's an incentive to disown materials.

Property	Definition	Example
Aspiration Toxicity	Capacity to harm by inhaling into the lungs.	Gasoline, hydrocarbons
Carcinogenicity	Capacity to cause cancer.	Asbestos, benzene
Corrosiveness	Capacity to destroy or irreversibly damage other substances.	Strong acids like sulfuric acid
Explosiveness	Capacity to cause an explosion.	Ammonium nitrate, dynamite
Flammability	Capacity to catch fire easily and burn quickly.	Petroleum products, alcohol
Infectivity	Capacity to cause disease.	Medical waste with viruses
Irritability	Capacity to cause inflammation or irritation to tissues.	Detergents, solvents
Mutagenesis	Capacity to cause genetic mutations.	Chemicals like benzopyrene
Oxidizing	Capacity to chemically oxidize other materials.	Hydrogen peroxide, chlorine
Radioactivity	Capacity to emit harmful ionizing radiation or particles.	Spent nuclear fuel, radium
Reproductive Toxicity	Capacity to negatively impact reproductive health.	Lead, mercury
Sensitizing	Capacity to cause or induce an allergic reaction.	Latex, nickel