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Resource efficiency

Page Last modified 15 Sep 2020
4 min read
Resource efficiency is essential if we want to decouple economic development from environmental degradation. Earth's resources are limited and their extraction generates environmental and climate impacts: using them more efficiently helps minimising these impacts. In that way, resource efficiency is one of the core elements necessary to create a more circular, greener economy in Europe as well as more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

 

EEA’s report series on resource efficiency policies - More from less

The European Environment Agency has monitored policies on resource efficiency across European countries since 2011, publishing a series of reports and country profiles taking stock of the state of play during the last decade. These reports are accessible here:

 

In addition to the reports, the EEA makes available country profiles which go deeper on the situation of each country, the latest version is available here.

Why is resource efficiency important?

The key to answering that question lies in recognising that humanity's economic activities are dependant on the global ecosystem – in particular its capacity to provide resources and to absorb pollution and waste. Crucially, the Earth is a closed material system and that shapes the possibilities for economic growth.

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Related publications

More from less — material resource efficiency in Europe This report presents an overview of approaches to material resource efficiency and to circular economy in thirty two European countries. It explores similarities and differences in national policy responses, with respect to policy objectives, priority resources and sectors, driving forces, targets and indicators, and the institutional setup. The report also reviews the EU policy framework for resource efficiency and analyses trends in material use and resource productivity between 2000 and 2014. Finally, it includes a number of considerations for the development of future policies on material resource efficiency and the circular economy. The analysis is richly illustrated with some sixty examples of countries’ policy initiatives, described in more detail in the 32 country profiles published alongside the main report.
Circular economy in Europe — Developing the knowledge base The report describes the concept of the circular economy and outlines its key characteristics. It draws attention to both the benefits and challenges in transitioning to such an economy and highlights possible ways to measure progress.
Environmental indicator report 2014 Environmental impacts of production-consumption systems in Europe. This report provides another perspective on the green economy transition, addressing the global value chains that meet European demand for goods and services. In doing so, it goes beyond previous reports and analyses to address the global dimension of Europe's economic activities. This perspective is highly relevant because European production and consumption systems rely heavily on imported resources and goods.
Resource‑efficient green economy and EU policies This report highlights the major forces fostering the shift to a resource-efficient green economy in Europe, including the role of EU policies. Currently, the economic and technological changes leading towards green economy objectives across the EU economy are proceeding too slowly; what is required is a much bigger, deeper, and more permanent change in the EU economy and society to create both new opportunities and substitution processes across the economic structure. To bring this about, it is important to study and understand enabling factors and mechanisms at the crossroads of policies and real economy dynamics that could accelerate and direct the transformation.
Progress on resource efficiency and decoupling in the EU‑27 Messages emerging from environmentally extended input‑output analysis with relevance to the Resource Efficiency Roadmap and the 7EAP
Environmental indicator report 2013 Natural resources and human well-being in a green economy. This report extends the analysis of the green economy, focusing on the environmental pressures associated with resource use patterns and their impact on human health and well-being. Mapping the diverse connections between environmental change and human health impacts involves considerable conceptual complexities, and relies on a relatively fragmented evidence base.
Material resources and waste — 2012 update Update to the European Environment State and Outlook 2010 (SOER 2010) thematic assessment
Environmental indicator report 2012 Reliable, relevant, targeted and timely environmental information is an essential element in implementing environmental policy and management processes. Such information can come in many formats — with indicators being a long-established approach to distilling detailed information into trends that are robust and easily understandable by a broad audience.
Resource efficiency in Europe — Policies and approaches in 31 EEA member and cooperating countries This report provides an overview of resource efficiency policies and instruments in 31 member and cooperating countries of the EEA’s Eionet network. A detailed survey was conducted during the first half of 2011 to collect, analyse and disseminate information about national experiences in developing and implementing resource efficiency policies, with the goal to facilitate the sharing of experiences and good practice. The report reviews national approaches to resource efficiency and explores similarities and differences in policies, strategies, indicators and targets, policy drivers and institutional setup. It concludes with some EEA considerations for development of future policies on resource efficiency at the EU and country levels. The analysis is illustrated with short examples of policy initiatives in the countries, described in more detail in the country profiles published together with the report.
Consumption and the environment - SOER 2010 thematic assessment The consumption of goods and services in EEA member countries is a major driver of global resource use and associated environmental impacts. Growth in global trade is resulting in an increasing share of environmental pressures and impacts from European consumption taking place beyond Europe. Food and drink, housing, mobility and tourism are responsible for a large part of the pressures and impacts caused by consumption in the EU. Achieving significant reductions in environmental pressures and impacts will require changing private and public consumption patterns, to supplement gains achieved through better technology and improved production processes.
Material resources and waste — SOER 2010 thematic assessment The European economy needs huge amounts of resources to function. Apart from consuming minerals, metals, concrete and wood, Europe burns fossil fuels and uses land to satisfy the needs of its citizens. Demand for materials is so intense that between 20 and 30 % of the resources we use are now imported. At the other end of the materials chain, the EU economy generates around six tons of waste per person every year. With the boom in international trade, EU consumption and production may potentially damage ecosystems and human health not only within but also far beyond its borders.
Europe's environment — The fourth assessment In this report, we underline the changes that have occurred in the environment and socio-economic context to help explain many of the environmental trends that have been observed. We identify successes and improvements but also register old legacies that need further effort such as, in particular, air pollution, water issues and contaminated sites. New threats, which challenge piecemeal solutions and call for integrated strategic measures at European and global levels, are described such as persistent chemicals in the environment, biodiversity loss, sustainable production and consumption and climate change. And a new overview is given of the state of European marine areas and inland seas.

See also

The European environment — state and outlook Welcome to the European State of the Environment website
About Eionet
Why is resource efficiency important?
Archived
Country fact sheets (2015)
Archived
Why is resource efficiency important?
4. Resource efficiency and the low-carbon economy
Resource efficiency in Europe — summary leaflet
Chapter 4: natural resources and waste
Archived
Synthesis The SOER 2010 synthesis provides an overview of the state of, trends in and prospects for the environment in Europe – this 222-page report integrates the main findings across SOER 2010 core elements.
Chapter 6 Sustainable consumption and production
Archived
More from less - preliminary findings
Draft
More from less — preliminary findings This leaflet presents preliminary findings from the 2015 EEA review of policies and approaches to material resource efficiency in 31 European countries. It has been prepared to support the European Commission’s (EC) work on resource efficiency by providing information on national contexts, but will also contribute to reflections on the circular economy.

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/waste/resource-efficiency/resource-efficiency or scan the QR code.

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