Material flow analysis (MFA) (or substance flow analysis; SFA) is a method of analyzing the flows of a material in a well-defined system. MFA is an important tool of industrial ecology, and is used to produce better understanding of the flow of materials through an industry and connected ecosystems, to calculate indicators, and to develop strategies for improving the material flow systems. Material Flow Analysis is the basis for a material flow management.
Material Flow Analysis can be divided into the following three types:
- On a national or regional scale (also referred to as Material Flow Accounting): In this type of studies the material exchanges between an economy and the natural environment are analyzed. Indicators are calculated in order to assess the level of resource intensity of the system.
- Corporate material flow analysis, or along an industrial supply chain involving a number of companies: The goal of material flow analysis within a company is to optimize the production processes in such a way that materials and energy are used in the most efficient manner (e.g. by recycling and reduction of waste). Companies that implement a material flow analysis can use the results to improve their operations costs and environmental performance.
- In the life cycle of a product: This is another term for the life cycle inventory step of life cycle assessment.
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