In order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, it is necessary to reduce the material footprint in key consumer sectors. The European Union has set a goal of achieving environmental sustainability by 2050, reducing resource consumption and minimizing environmental impact through Goal 8 of the 8th Environmental Action Program (EAP).
A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows how the consumption of resources in the European Union takes place across different sectors, such as housing, food, mobility and consumer goods. The material footprint of these sectors in 2021 is also analyzed, that is, how many resources they consume and what materials are used – biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores, non-metallic minerals.
Housing and food together accounted for over 70 percent of the material footprint in the European Union in 2021. Nevertheless, housing took the first place with a significant advantage with 52 percent, and the dominant use of non-metallic minerals such as sand and gravel. Although some progress has been made between 2010 and 2021, significant changes are needed in the construction and management of buildings. Introducing regulations that promote the use of low-carbon and renewable building materials, as well as incentives for renovation instead of new construction, are some of the ways to reduce the use of resources.
When it comes to food, with 20 percent, it takes second place. In this sector too, a slight decrease in the use of materials was recorded in the same period. As stated, the options for radical reduction are limited, but there are different ways to achieve the goal. This primarily refers to changes in the way of eating and better management of food waste. One of the regulations that should be followed is the one related to stopping deforestation, but it is emphasized that better implementation of policies for more efficient biomass management is needed.
The services sector accounted for 11 percent of the material footprint of the European Union in 2021. In general, this sector consumes significantly less material per euro spent. For example, the material footprint of spending to buy a new fashion item is significantly higher than to hold a private foreign language lesson. One of the examples cited in the report is the redirection of spending from the domain of mobility to services. This means that a change is needed in the way people travel – instead of investing in a new means of transport, invest in public transport services.
This is followed by the so-called personal mobility, which makes up eight percent of the material footprint. Here, a significant reduction in material intensity is noted, because although there has been an increase in the number of cars, at the same time there is a shift to more environmentally efficient fuels and electric cars.
Household goods make up eight percent, and by them we mean different products and objects used in the household. They occupy the second place in terms of the highest consumption of metal ores, after housing. It should be noted that the reduction of the material footprint by five percent was recorded, although in the period from 2010 to 2021 there was an increase in the consumption of these goods by over 20 percent. The reason is increased durability and the possibility of repair. Here, the new European Union Regulation related to eco-design, which promotes sustainable products, should be encouraged.
Finally, clothing and footwear have the smallest material footprint – one percent. Additional reduction is possible through the transition to circular business models and changes in consumer behavior.
Katarina Vuinac
Source: energetskiportal.rs
