Renewable resource products offer important economic and environmental benefits. Every time you buy produce at the grocery store or use recycled products, you are realizing the benefits of renewable resources. According to a 2009 Harris Interactive survey, over two-thirds of Americans recycle, providing the necessary supply for renewable resource production.
Significance
Renewable resource products are a major player in the U.S. and global markets. For example, the U.S. provides nearly 40 percent of the total global corn, according to the U.S. Grains Council. Four states supply more than half of the nation's corn: Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. The U.S. holds a similar position in the sorghum market as the No. 1 world exporter of this grain. Timber provides another important renewable resource. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that the 2005 harvest topped 16 quadrillion cubic feet of timber for all industries.
Benefits
The primary benefit of renewable resources is the availability of raw materials to produce new products, either from growing new crops or from using recycled materials. The term renewable means that the supply can be replenished in a reasonable amount of time to keep up with demand. The time frame varies widely depending upon the resource and the market demand. Some renewable resource products such as solar or wind energy provide a free source of energy, reducing costs over the lifetime of the resource considerably.
Types
Several types of renewable resource products exist. On the energy front, solar, wind and water provide readily available sources of clean energy. Biomass from crops, agricultural wastes and trees can supply another alternative fuel. Agricultural crops contribute raw materials for industry, pharmaceutical uses and food production. Timber provides a source of lumber for construction and furniture-making as well as another source of fuel.
Considerations
Renewable resource products are a commodity and as such are subject to the fluctuations of the economy, explains the University of Illinois Extension. Production costs can also influence the cost and hence, the marketability of these products. External factors such as weather can affect harvest of agricultural crops and timber stands. In order to remain viable, industries involved in renewable resource products must consider the outside influences on production and adapt with the changing markets.
Prevention/Solution
Renewable resource products reduce the dependence on nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels and raw ore. The environment benefits from the reduction of fossil fuel emissions and the other environmental ills associated with nonrenewable materials, explains the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Continued development of renewable resource products can reduce the effects of climate change and other environmental problems, making reliance on these products environmentally sound.
References
- Harris Interactive: How Green Are We? Putting Our Money (and Behavior) Where Our Mouth Is
- U.S. Grains Council: Corn
- U.S. Grains Council: Sorghum
- U.S. Forest Service: Use of Indexing to Update U.S. Annual Timber Harvest by State
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Non-Hydroelectric Renewable Energy
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