The role of Circular Economy in Resource Security: A Material and Economic Analysis of Titanium Supply in the European Union

This repository contains the supplementary data and underlying models for the thesis titled: "The role of Circular Economy in Resource Security: A Material and Economic Analysis of Titanium Supply in the European Union."

As Titanium is classified as a Critical Raw Material (CRM) by the European Commission, this research evaluates the potential of Circular Economy (CE) strategies to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities. The dataset provides a comprehensive look at the physical and economic dimensions of the EU titanium industry.

Dataset Overview

The repository is organized into three primary components:

1. Material Flow Analysis (MFA) Supplement: Includes the mass balance calculations for titanium life cycle stages within the EU. It covers extraction, processing (unwrought and wrought), manufacturing, end-of-use, and secondary recovery. This file includes the "hidden" calculations used to generate Sankey diagrams and stock-and-flow models.

2. Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) Supplement: Contains the economic data and environmental extensions used to trace the embodied titanium in global trade. This section highlights the value-added steps and the economic dependencies of the EU on external titanium suppliers.

3. Trade Flow & Scrap Analysis: A detailed comparison of trade flows between the EU and its primary partners (e.g., USA, China, Japan). This includes a granular breakdown of:

Unwrought Titanium: (Sponges, ingots, and powders).

Wrought Titanium: (Bars, sheets, and tubes).

Scrap imports and exports

Methodology & Assumptions

The "Assumptions" sheet within the Excel files documents the data harmonization process. It addresses data gaps in Eurostat and Comtrade databases by utilizing interpolation and expert-weighted proxies. Key background calculations for conversion factors and recycling yield rates are included to ensure full transparency.

Usage Notes

Keywords: Titanium, Circular Economy, Resource Security, MFA, MRIO, Critical Raw Materials, EU Trade Policy.

Software Requirements: The files are provided in .xlsx format and are compatible with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Python (pandas).

Citation: Please cite this dataset alongside the original thesis.