Sustainable Materials Management (SMM), a term chosen by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) for a holistic approach aimed at minimizing environmental impact, conserving resources, and promoting sustainable practices throughout a material's life cycle. It revolves around the efficient use of resources, waste reduction, recycling, and fostering a circular economy. Visit www.topicsforseminar.com to access our SMM PPT and learn more about this powerful initiative

1. Sustainable
Materials
Management
(SMM)

2. What is Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) ?
Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) is a holistic approach aimed
at minimizing environmental impact, conserving resources, and
promoting sustainable practices throughout a material's life cycle.
It revolves around the efficient use of resources, waste reduction,
recycling, and fostering a circular economy.

3. Human consumption of
natural resources has
increased to 125% of
global capacity and
could rise to 170% by
2040.
By 2050, world
consumption will reach
140 billion tons of
minerals, ores, fossil
fuels and biomass/year
unless economic growth
is decoupled from rate
of natural resource
consumption.
With less than 5% of
world's population, the
U.S. was responsible for
1/3 of the world's
material consumption
from 1970-1995.
Sources: World Wildlife Federation, Living Planet Report (2006); UNEP International Resource Panel; EPA's Sustainable Materials Management:
The Road Ahead

4. Understanding SMM
Life Cycle Perspective
Waste Hierarchy
Circular Economy
Resource Conservation
Environmental Impact Reduction

5. Life Cycle Perspective
Waste Hierarchy
Circular Economy
Resource Conservation
Environmental Impact Reduction
• SMM considers the entire life cycle of materials, from extraction to
disposal or recycling.
• It involves assessing the environmental impact at each stage and finding
ways to optimize resource use.

6. Life Cycle Perspective
Waste Hierarchy
Circular Economy
Resource Conservation
Environmental Impact Reduction
• It follows a hierarchy known as the "3Rs" - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
• Priority is given to waste prevention (Reduce), followed by reusing items
whenever possible and recycling materials as a last resort.

7. Life Cycle Perspective
Waste Hierarchy
Circular Economy
Resource Conservation
Environmental Impact Reduction
• SMM promotes a circular economy model, where materials are reused or recycled to
create new products, minimizing waste and preserving resources.
• This involves designing products with recyclability in mind and establishing efficient
recycling systems.

8. Life Cycle Perspective
Waste Hierarchy
Circular Economy
Resource Conservation
Environmental Impact Reduction
Efforts are made to conserve natural resources by maximizing their utility and
reducing the environmental impact associated with their extraction and use.

9. Reduce Co2
Emissions
Life Cycle Perspective
Waste Hierarchy
Circular Economy
Resource Conservation
Environmental Impact Reduction
SMM aims to minimize environmental pollution, energy consumption, and
greenhouse gas emissions associated with material production, use, and disposal.
Reduce Water
Wastage
Reduce Factory
Waste

10. Key
Components
of SMM
SMM
Product Design
Waste Management
Education and
Awareness
Policy and Regulation
Resource Efficiency

11. Benefits of SMM
Environmental Preservation
Reduced resource depletion,
lower pollution levels, and
minimized environmental
impact contribute to preserving
ecosystems and biodiversity.
Environmental Preservation
Reduced resource depletion,
lower pollution levels, and
minimized environmental
impact contribute to preserving
ecosystems and biodiversity.
Resource Conservation
By using resources more
efficiently, SMM helps conserve
natural resources for future
generations.
Resource Conservation
By using resources more
efficiently, SMM helps conserve
natural resources for future
generations.
Economic Benefits
Cost savings for businesses
through reduced waste disposal
fees, increased efficiency, and
the creation of new markets for
recycled materials.
Economic Benefits
Cost savings for businesses
through reduced waste disposal
fees, increased efficiency, and
the creation of new markets for
recycled materials.
Community Health Improvement
Minimizing waste and pollution
positively impacts public health by
reducing exposure to harmful
substances and pollutants.
Long-Term Sustainability
SMM fosters a more sustainable
and resilient society by promoting
responsible consumption and
production patterns that can be
maintained over the long term.

12. 1
2
3
4
Behavioral Change
Encouraging individuals, businesses, and industries to adopt
sustainable practices requires a shift in mindset and behavior.
Infrastructure and Technology
Developing efficient recycling systems and technologies to handle
various materials can be challenging and require investment.
Policy Implementation
Effective policies and regulations need to be in place and enforced
to ensure compliance and incentivize sustainable practices.
Global Cooperation
Given the interconnectedness of global supply chains, achieving
SMM requires international cooperation and coordination among
countries.
Challenges in Implementing SMM

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