Launch of the new guide Conducting a Material Flow Cost Analysis (MFCA)

Sorel-Tracy, November 18, 2022 - The Centre de recherche en comptabilité et développement durable (CerCeDD) of FSA ULaval and the Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTÉI) have published a guide to help organizations conduct a material flow cost analysis (MFCA)

For an organization, choosing the best environmental option is often a question of price and effort. They want to minimize costs and losses to achieve an optimal solution both in terms of money and sustainability.

A new guide to leveraging waste analysis

In this context, why not use the value of waste to evaluate possible solutions? This is what material flow cost accounting ( MFCA) proposes. A guide developed by Marc Journeault of the Centre de recherche en comptabilité et développement durable (CerCeDD) of FSA ULaval and Julien Beaulieu of the Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTÉI) aims to shed light on this analysis and allow for a simple and effective application.

Visual Guide ACFM
The guide "Conducting a Material Flow Cost Analysis (MFCA)" and its complementary tools are available free of charge, in French only. 

What is the MFDA?

The MFDA takes into consideration the obvious costs associated with waste management (e.g., rental of waste containers, disposal fees, fuel surcharges, etc.) as well as hidden costs (e.g., purchase of materials, energy expenses, labour costs, capital costs, depreciation of certain equipment, etc.).

Once this analysis is completed, managers can better appreciate the economic impacts associated with waste and consider improvement measures such as input substitution, process modification, internal recycling or by-product sales.

In concrete terms, the ACFM is a tool that allows for the identification of opportunities to increase profits while decreasing the environmental footprint of organizations. More specifically, it aims to:

  • Know the real cost of waste during the production of a good
  • Identify materials that would save money
  • Improve productivity and profitability.

Marc Journeault's unique expertise

The guide "Réaliser une analyse des coûts des flux de matières (ACFM)" is a testament to Marc Journeault's particular specializations. A full professor atLaval University's School of Accounting and a member of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés (CPA) du Québec, he has developed expertise in strategy, sustainable development, green accounting and the circular economy.

Marc has more than 15 years of involvement in research projects on the economic, environmental and social contributions of adopting an organizational approach to sustainable development and the circular economy. He is also very active in training and coaching organizations on the competitive advantages associated with sustainable development, the circular economy and the role of accounting in supporting a sustainable corporate strategy.

It was through these business coaching sessions that Marc Journeault and Julien Beaulieu were able to experience the MFDA and demonstrate its strategic importance.

To download the guide and its complementary tools, click here. Please note that the guide is available in French only. 

About the Centre for Research in Accounting and Sustainable Development

The mission of the Centre de recherche en comptabilité et développement durable (CerCeDD) of FSA ULaval is to develop research, training and knowledge transfer activities on issues related to accounting for sustainable development in order to enrich knowledge in this field and contribute to the improvement of practices within organizations.

Learn more about CerCeDD

About the Industrial Ecology Technology Transfer Centre

Affiliated with the Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, the mission of the Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTÉI) is to increase the performance of businesses and communities through research and development of innovative approaches and technologies in industrial ecology.

Learn more about the CTTÉI

Share