Resource scarcity Krikke warns that
natural resource scarcity is becoming a serious issue. He concludes that there is a lack of data on some resources, but that it is clear that there are less and less materials, energy and water available. Mining companies invest in increasingly remote and politically dangerous areas or in the deep sea to reach ever scarcer reserves. As an example Krikke mentions a large French car manufacturer that was notified by its sustainability officer that most of their factories are located in regions where water is scarce. Because of the high water bills their cars could become unaffordable. Krikke concludes that scarcity of resources have an enormous long term negative environmental and economical impact. A closed loop supply chain and re-using products thus becomes more relevant.
Impact of supply chain on carbon footprint Krikke studied the impact of a copier manufacturer's supply chain on the total carbon footprint of the product and in the handling of end-of-life vehicles. He found that customers knowledge of a product's carbon footprint can affect purchasing decisions, for example new versus second hand. Companies do not routinely calculate carbon footprint data, and often neglect the supply chain portion of that footprint. Outsourcing complicates this calculation. When looking at refrigerators and cars, 80-90% of emissions are emitted during the user phase. By contrast, personal computers emit 80-90% of their emissions during production and distribution. For network switches, routers and cell-phones, 50% of output occurs in the supply chain. To increase knowledge and awareness of the positive impact of
reuse Krikke has developed the "greener network calculator", a unique calculator that gives a clear overview and insight into how much emissions are reduced when buying and using second hand/used hardware rather than new hardware. == Principal publications ==