Practical experiences on applying substance flow analysis in Flanders: bookkeeping and static modelling of chromium

Substance flow analysis is one of the analytical tools applied in the research field of industrial ecology. This paper presents practical experiences on implementing substance flow analysis to support integrated environmental policy in the Flemish region of Belgium. We have studied the case of chromium flows within the regional economic system, within the regional ecosystem and among these interdependent systems. During the project, a bookkeeping account and a static model were constructed. Origin analyses and sensitivity analyses were used and calculations on the effects of potential policy measures were carried out. The analyses and calculations show that many difficulties exist in connection with the substance being studied on the one hand and the region under investigation on the other. The contribution as well as the practical difficulties and limitations of applying substance flow analysis are presented.