stephenhinton

The ABC of supply chains. Allocation of common pool assets and services based on them.

Earlier posts explained that the Swedish system of classifying organisations according to the products they produce (SNI) is useful as a tool to study the workings of the supply chains. The classification is connected to a lot of data collected about Swedish companies. This section covers the concept of allocation – that is about how much of common pool resources each type of industry takes up, and how much of the total need is filled by the respective companies. We will explore the theory in this part. The aim is to develop approaches that better inform policy making.

The “C” of the ABC of supply chains is the keystone of circularity

The last article explained that, if you are looking to develop policy to drive the circular economy, then it is useful to divide supply chains up in their industrial classification. You need to look at one in particular, the keystone holding it all up – C, manufacturing. And in manufacturing, you need to focus on built capital – the capability and performance of the actual infrastructure used in manufacturing.

The ABC of Supply Chains shows the disconnects killing the planet

Fortunately for us, Sweden keeps a pretty comprehensive set of statistics ¹ on how its industry performs. It takes a while to retrieve them and put them together at the highest levels, but the exercise reveals som particular insights about how the developed world works. You could say that supply chains represent the workings of the global super organism. When you look at the system from above, you see some glaring disconnects. It gives a good idea of who is doing what to the planet, and who is earning the money from it. They are definitely different industries, if not different people.

A carbon dioxide balance sheet for Sweden

Based on official statistics it is possible to put together a high-level balance sheet for Sweden’s carbon dioxide emissions and uptake. It does raise some interesting questions as to how the statistics are set up, but let us look at the overall picture – to better understand how the country can fulfil its ambition to be climate neutral by 2050.

Real Capital – an explainer

Explainer: what is real capital. Real capital refers to resources used in producing goods and services without being entirely consumed. It encompasses natural, built, social, and human capital. Mature real capital has the capability to provide necessary services to the intended population. Evaluating the maturity level of capital can guide policy decisions and determine the interplay of different capital types, investment needs, and development goals.

Real capital defined

Real capital is defined as:

Something that is used in the production of
goods and services to society, but not used up.

Note that capital is necessary but not sufficient to provide services. The capital is utilised in the production system. There are several categorisation methods, but I prefer the following as described in the table below:

2023: Looking Back in Anger-the realization it is too late to avoid hardship

2023 – the year I realised we are looking at the end of industrial civilisation as we know it.

Last year, some realizations hit me hard. For me, 2023 really saw the beginning of the end of what we might call the industrial way of life. For many years I have advocated transitioning to sustainability. Below I outline why I now think it is too late, instead the focus should be on mitigating the effects of destabilized weather patterns. It looks like several tipping points may be inevitable. At least we must prepare.

It’s not the technology, it’s the social organisation that will save us.

Back in 2008 I published a novel, “Inventing for the Sustainable Planet”. It follows technical writer Max Wahlter as he uses creativity techniques to invent sustainable technology. He was hoping to sell some to augment his measly salary.

The Tax and Dividend mechanism. A simulation

One way to reduce fossil fuel in products is to, as suggested by The Swedish Sustainable Economy Foundation, introduce a progressive tax and dividend on fossil fuel.

Introducing the Business of Peace Podcast – Investors in Peace

We wouldn’t be doing this if peace were not a thing. We know it is. But few seem to be talking about it. So we decided we should.

Trying out a water walk

One possible round route of 4 km following the river Lugneån that feeds into the river Hoån and the hydroelectric installation that provides Hofors with electricity.

Rivers are held as sacred in India. It is not uncommon for people to undertake long pilgrimages to walk from their source to the sea. The People’s Water Commission on Drought and Floods, https://pwcdf.org/ an NGO co-founded by the International Association of Advanced Materials, based in Ulrika, Sweden, has had the idea, inspired by the Indian example, that people in their local areas set up a water walk to better engage with the water systems in their local areas. One of the main purposes would be to engage people in preparing for possible droughts and floods as the climate changes.