Although European countries are making progress in the area of resource efficiency, there is a need for stronger environmental policies to be put in place, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report.

‘More from less – material resource efficiency in Europe’ is an assessment of the resource efficiency policies in place in 32 of the 39 EEA member and cooperating countries, known as Eionet, and examples of their best practice initiatives.

The report, published yesterday (9 June), was carried out to encourage the sharing of information and experiences to enhance knowledge of resource efficiency and the circular economy.

It concluded that there is ‘room for improvement in policy design and implementation as well as significant potential benefit in the exchange of good practice since the big differences between countries still exist’.

The report provides resource efficiency profiles on each individual country and looks at similarities and differences in the policies, strategies and targets from each country. It is based on a survey of 32 countries and was produced in collaboration with Eionet and the European Topic Centre on Waste and Materials in a Green Economy (ETC/WMGE).

Delay to CEP holding up national action

Of the countries assessed, only Austria, Finland and Germany have introduced specific strategies for material resource efficiency. Regional strategies are also in place in Scotland and the Flanders region of Belgium.

Although the EEA does not put forward a reason for the low number of circular economy strategies, it has been suggested by several groups that it is down to the delay to the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package, which was finally re-published in December 2015, after the initial proposal was withdrawn to reassess its ambition.

The package is now being debated by the European Council and Parliament, with all three European institutions needing to agree on the package’s text before it becomes law.

Several countries, including the UK, Ireland, Portugal, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, have stated that the circular economy and ‘closing material loops’ are policy priorities, but have not yet turned that interest into concrete strategies.

Meadhbh Bolger, Resource Use Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, suggested that this is a result of the package’s delay: “This is further evidence that the scrapping of the first proposal has now meant a wasted 18 months and counting for national government action – which is where policy becomes reality and resources can actually be saved.”

Circular economy initiatives described in the EEA report mainly involve waste management procedures, such as increasing recycling rates and using secondary materials. Only a few policies go beyond this area.

Economic benefit is the ‘most important driver’

In terms of drivers for European countries to improve their resource efficiency, the report notes that several are particularly important. These included reducing environmental pressures or the dependence on imports, increasing competitiveness and securing a supply of raw materials.

The most important driver, however, was seen to be the economic benefit gained from increasing resource efficiency.

The report revealed that different countries identified different resources as priority materials. The following materials were listed as priorities:

• certain waste streams and secondary materials (26 countries);
• plastic and packaging (17 countries);
• construction and demolition waste (16 countries);
• food waste (15 countries); and
• energy sources, including fossil fuels and renewables (18 countries).

Manufacturing was the key economic sector mentioned most relating to improving material resource efficiency, followed by agriculture and forestry, construction, and waste management.

Despite the fact that the service sector is responsible for 70-75 per cent of GDP in most European countries, its significance was not reflected in the report as it was mentioned by only a few countries as a priority for improving resource efficiency.

UK material resource efficiency

According to the UK’s profile, the UK resource productivity – the quantity of goods and services obtained per unit resource used – in 2014 was around €3.5/kilogramme (kg) (£2.75/kg) which is 176 per cent of the EU average of €1.98 EUR/kg (£1.55/kg).

The UK value has increased from just over €2/kg in 2000 and was the third highest of the 32 countries assessed using 2014 data, suggesting that we make good use of the resources we have.

Meanwhile, the domestic material consumption – the annual quantity of raw materials extracted from the domestic territory – of the UK has also dropped since 2000, and in 2014 was 8.7 tonnes per person, lower than the EU average of 13.1 tonnes per person. The UK was the fifth lowest of all 32 countries assessed.

The amount of materials consumed by the UK has fallen, and is lower than the EU-28 average, suggesting that the UK is improving its resource efficiency. In comparison with the EU average the UK has a higher percentage consumption of fossil fuels and biomass but a lower percentage consumption of non-mineral ores and metal ores.

Figures were provided for the UK as a whole but due to devolution of powers to separate UK regions, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales were treated separately.

In terms of policy, the report acknowledged that Scotland and Wales are the only two UK regions to have produced dedicated resource-efficiency strategies, namely the ‘Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources’ and ‘Towards Zero Waste’.

England has, however, produced a Waste Prevention Programme and Northern Ireland has a Waste Management Strategy, both of which were published – as required by EU law – in 2013.

Balancing ‘environmental, economic and social objectives’ is essential

The report’s foreword reads: ‘It’s reassuring to see that the economic and environmental co-benefits of increased resource efficiency and closing material loops are explicitly recognised in national approaches. The resource use agenda is thus evolving from a largely environmental concern towards an integrated, sustainable economic development model.

‘Yet, one important finding is that the circular economy for most countries still means merely better waste management. Furthermore, climate change and resource efficiency policies appear largely disconnected in practice, while integration with a bio-economy strategy also requires further efforts.

‘Keeping the balance between environmental, economic and social objectives is essential, as it is not about generating more jobs and wealth through using more natural resources, rather doing so in a sustainable manner.’

The EEA’s ‘More from less – material resource efficiency in Europe’ report and profiles can be downloaded from its website.