This thesis examines patent documents as sources of eco-innovations that would improve the sector. In this thesis, European and United States patent offices have been used as data bases. It follows that a total of 51 patent documents were obtained from US patent office and 128 patent documents from European patent office. However 45 patent documents were suitable for cross-sectional analysis through content analysis.
Researcher’s findings from 45 patents that were analyzed show that innovations in sustainability seem to be an area of interest amongst inventors. On the other hand, trends and patterns show that innovations in energy efficiency and sustainability have been issued more compared to waste management innovations. The researcher explains the logic that since energy efficient innovations and sustainability innovations aim to reduce pollution and wastes, hence little can be paid waste management innovations rather than to be ignored.
Eco-innovations are being regarded as essential products or processes that not only help in fostering sustainable development but also help in creating and enhancing new business opportunities. Over the years, the public view of the mining sector has been negative due to the pollution it brings. Therefore the sector is challenged to show that it can contribute to the welfare by minimizing pollution through eco-innovations.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Purpose of this study
1.4 Methodology
1.5 Contribution of the research
1.6 Limitations
Chapter 2: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Business and sustainability
2.3 Business in Resource Constrained Environment (R.C.E)
2.4 Mining industry overview
2.5 Sustainable mining
2.6 Sustainable mining frameworks
2.7 Mining Operations in developing countries
2.8 Mining operations in developed countries
2.9 Current tailing and waste management practices
2.10 Current innovation in mining sector
2.11 Best Practice in the mining sector
2.12 Other Innovations that would enhance the mining sector
2.13 Reasons why Mining firms should adopt sustainability practices and clean production
2.14 Literature summary
Chapter 3.0: Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Ontology
3.3 Research Epistemology
3.4 Research Design:
3.5 Research Methods
3.6 Ethical considerations
3.7 Content Analysis and Documentation
3.8 Conducting content analysis research
3.9 Data Collection: step by step to collecting data from patent office data bases
3.10 Data Analysis
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussions
Chapter 5: Recommendations and Conclusions
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation aims to critically evaluate how current patent innovations in the mining sector contribute to sustainability and resource efficiency, specifically examining their potential for adoption in developing countries. The research explores how mining firms can utilize resources more efficiently to minimize environmental harm while maintaining economic viability.
- Analysis of patent documents related to sustainability, waste management, and energy efficiency.
- Evaluation of current innovations in the mining sector from 2010 to 2016.
- Assessment of the applicability of global mining innovations in developing nations.
- Identification of opportunities for environmental conservation through technological improvements.
- Comparison of patent trends between the USPTO and the EPO.
Excerpt from the Book
2.7 Mining Operations in developing countries
Over the last decade, mining operations have been the source of income for millions of people in developing countries (ILO, 1999 and Kristensen et al, 2014). However technology is not enhanced as methods and processes used in mining cause severe harm to the environment (Silvester and Neto, 2014), for example; the use of Mercury amalgamation in Gold mining operations in developing countries causes significant emissions into the air and water surfaces (Caravanos et al, 2013).
On the other hand, other hazards from mining processes such as dust, exposure to heavy metals from tailings have been the leading cause of respiratory diseases in developing countries such as lung cancer (Utembe et al, 2015). Also acid seepage has been a problem especially in South African mine in Hlalanikahle that led to fish death in Loskop dam (Jansson, 2015)
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter provides the background of the study, the problem statement, the research objectives, and the limitations of the research.
Chapter 2: Literature Review: This section reviews existing literature on business and sustainability, sustainable mining frameworks, and current innovations in the mining sector.
Chapter 3.0: Methodology: This chapter details the research philosophy, design, and the systematic step-by-step procedure used to collect and analyze patent data.
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussions: This chapter presents the analysis of the gathered patent data and discusses the trends in sustainability and resource efficiency innovations.
Chapter 5: Recommendations and Conclusions: This final chapter summarizes the research findings and provides recommendations for mining firms and future practices.
Keywords
Sustainability, Mining Sector, Eco-innovations, Resource Efficiency, Waste Management, Patent Analysis, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Conservation, Developing Countries, Content Analysis, Mining Operations, Industrial Processes, Technology Adoption, Environmental Performance, Sustainable Mining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation focuses on how current patent innovations in the mining sector address sustainability, resource efficiency, and waste management to minimize environmental harm.
What are the central themes of the research?
The core themes are sustainability in mining, energy efficiency in extraction processes, waste management technologies, and the adaptation of these technologies in developing countries.
What is the main objective of this study?
The main objective is to critically evaluate current mining innovations to determine how they can contribute to more sustainable operations and to see if they can be effectively implemented in developing nations like Tanzania.
Which scientific method is employed?
The researcher adopted a relativist philosophy using qualitative content analysis to examine patent documents obtained from the US Patent Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
What is analyzed in the main body of the work?
The main body analyzes 45 selected patent documents issued between 2010 and 2016, focusing on their specific contributions to sustainability, energy consumption reduction, and waste mitigation in mining.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include mining sustainability, eco-innovations, resource efficiency, patent document analysis, and waste management.
Why did the researcher choose patent analysis?
Patent analysis was chosen because it provides a snapshot of current innovative efforts and technological trends in the mining sector that aim to solve real-world environmental challenges.
What are the specific environmental issues addressed in the thesis?
The thesis specifically addresses the severe environmental harm caused by mining, such as mercury amalgamation, acid mine drainage, and the impact of tailings on biodiversity and water quality.
How do the findings impact the potential for mining in developing countries?
The findings suggest that many existing technologies, if properly implemented, can help mining firms in developing countries improve their environmental performance while simultaneously reducing operational costs.
- Quote paper
- Clement Hosea Mbise (Author), 2016, Sustainable mining. To what extent do current patent innovations focus on sustainability and resource efficiency?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/471495
