Global demand for materials has been growing over the past century, driven by a steady economic growth in OECD countries, the industrialisation of emerging economies, and a growing world population. Global materials use more than doubled between 1990 and 2017 and is projected to double again by 2060. Due to the growing amounts of materials use, environmental pressures such as land degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and the dispersion of toxic substances in the environment are projected to more than double in the decades to come.
In this context, improving resource efficiency and stimulating the transition towards a more circular economy has become crucial. An increasing number of governments have started implementing policies and strategies to meet this objective. However, stronger efforts are needed. In particular, resource efficiency policies need to be extended to cover all stages of the materials lifecycle, and aligned with sectoral policies, such as those targeting trade of secondary materials. Further efforts in gathering data and designing indicators will also help strengthening policy development. Finally, enhancing international co-operation will be crucial in the context of increasingly globalised value chains.