National Indicators:
Materials Consumption Per Capita and Per $ of GDP

Materials use is shown here as the weight of materials consumed annually per capita and per million dollars of gross domestic product (GDP). The term “materials” includes all raw materials used in manufacturing and construction, such as wood, paper, metals, industrial minerals, construction materials, and organic materials (e.g., asphalt and plastics). It does not include the raw materials used for fuel or food. In these indicators, the consumption of materials is measured by weight, so the indicators are dominated by the heavier materials. (Alternatively, materials use could be measured by volume.)

There continue to be abundant reserves of many materials; and advances in product design, production, and recovery of materials are improving the efficiency of utilization. At the current time, ensuring the availability of most materials for future generations is not a major concern in the United States. There are a few exceptions, such as fertilizers and hardwood lumber. Total material use has risen dramatically throughout this century, as has materials use per capita. As the global population continues to grow, the availability of materials could potentially become a concern, but it will depend on factors such as the use per capita, advances in energy efficiency, and the potential extraction of previously unavailable reserves.

A more immediate concern regarding materials is the impact of materials extraction, processing, and utilization on the environment. The extraction of materials can lead to the potential disruption of natural habitats and ecosystems. In addition, toxic wastes can be released into the environment when the materials are processed and manufactured into products or when the resulting products are used and then disposed by consumers. Other indicators related to ecosystems, the contamination of biota, and air and water quality reflect these problems.

In recent years, the U.S. economy has become more dependent on the delivery of services rather than on the traditional manufacturing and industrial sectors. The slight decline in materials use per unit of GDP over the past decade may be due in part to this shift in economic activity. Yet other than for wood and primary metals, the decline in consumption relative to GDP is not statistically significant at this point in time. Foreign goods represent a rising percentage of the products purchased by U.S. consumers, and the materials used to make these imported goods are not included in the data presented here. On the other hand, materials shipped overseas as U.S. exports or foreign aid are included in the data. A more complete picture of U.S. materials consumption could be obtained by including the weight of imported materials and subtracting the weight of materials shipped overseas.

A recent study by institutions in the United States, The Netherlands, Germany, and Japan adds to direct material inputs the “hidden flows” of materials that result from economic activity. Examples include the wastes in ore that are removed by mining and smelting, the earth moved for the construction of infrastructure, and the erosion of soil due to agriculture. These hidden flows are not part of the indicator pictured above, but we may wish to incorporate these and other factors into this indicator in future years (A separate indicator on soil erosion appears elsewhere).

Reference:

• World Resources Institute, Resource Flows: The Material Basis of Industrial Economies, 1997.

http://www.sdi.gov/indicators/lc_mater.htm Last Modified: May 14, 2002