- Dr Ben McLellan & Dr Glen Corder, University of Queensland; Stevan Green, Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing
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Even though many major industrial companies are embracing the concepts and principles of sustainable development (SD) and sustainability, the challenge of the applying these in a practical sense, either in plant design or as part of day-to-day operations, is not trivial. The high-level nature of sustainable development concepts and principles, such as the ICMM 10 sustainable development principles[1], do not translate easily into workable activities, making it difficult for the practising engineer to understand whether his or her actions or decisions are making a contribution, or even in accord, with the goals of sustainable development.
Recognising these serious shortcomings, the Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing (CSRP) has undertaken a major research project to address these deficiencies in the current design and operation of industrial processing plants. There is, in fact, a wide range of opportunities that can contribute to Sustainable Development (SD) throughout the conceptualisation, development, operation and eventual decommissioning of industrial projects. While several organisations have their own SD tools that can, to a degree, help identify these opportunities, they are largely ad hoc and lack the necessary thoroughness to defensibly value these opportunities.
The key goal of the CSRP research project is to produce a holistic, systematic and rigorous process to capture, record and evaluate SD opportunities against a chosen sustainability framework (e.g. five capitals or triple bottom line). This mechanism is called SUSOP® (Sustainable Operations) and is being developed through an iterative process, with significant interest, encouragement and input from industry players involved in both the operational and design phases of resource processing projects. This paper presents an overview of the SUSOP® development process, focusing on its capability to incorporate SD considerations at each phase of an engineering project development.
BIO:
Dr Ben McLellan has been working at the CSRM since 2006. His main work has focussed on assessment of the potential sustainable development (SD) credentials of emerging minerals industry technology and the integration of SD principles into the design and operation of minerals operations (SUSOP®). The SD assessment work has involved a variety of technologies including by-product and waste reuse technologies, advances in comminution and hydrogen energy systems. The SUSOP® work is endeavouring to develop a methodology for integrating SD considerations into all aspects of minerals operations and project development. His other work has included Sustainability Metrics, Frameworks and Assessment Methodologies for the minerals and energy industries. His main research interest is incorporating context and location-specific elements into the development of metrics for sustainability assessment.