Industrial Metabolism MFA Model Applied in a Startup in Canada

Industrial metabolism is a recent field of research in engineering and sustainability. Its practical objective is to provide structural solutions to organizations and regulate the productive, ecological, and economic system. Due to being a relatively new topic and without a known pattern, the present research adapts the 4R (resources) urban metabolism MFA model developed at ETH in Switzerland by Professor Peter Baccini and applies it to a Canadian food startup (Missfresh). Within the adjusted model, clean production tools, circularity plans, ecological design, inventory flow analysis, and the four general study variables (materials, infrastructure, impacts, and standards) were used for solutions within the company. This research seeks two academic results: the metabolic map (static–dynamic animation) that describes the behavior of the company during a period of time, and the industrial metabolism model adapted and validated for subsequent applications. In practical results, the impacts of the model in the 3Es of sustainability in the industry and the sector are evaluated: ecology, ergonomics, and economy. This research is conducted within the framework of an internship to obtain a master’s degree in Sustainable Development and Environment at the University of Montreal.