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30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Global Oil Consumption (in bn. t)
today 2050
Figure 2: Worldwide demand for raw materials in 2050 without increasing efficiency levels
(Source: Hennicke 2006)
on oil consumption, number of cars, and global resource
extraction in 2050.
The relevance of different business sectors in terms of
resource consumption varies from country to country. The
most resource intensive sectors in Germany, for instance,
are construction, food and beverage, metal and semi-fin-
ished metal goods, as well as the energy and motor vehi-
cle sectors (Acosta-Fernández 2007). In Finland, however,
mining and construction are the most intensive sectors,
followed by agricultural, forestry and wood-processing in-
dustry sectors. The car industry only plays a minor role here
(Mäenpää 2005). This demonstrates that for each country
different technologies, products and, thus, different strate-
gies are relevant in order to improve resource efficiency.
An analysis of resource consumption by areas of de-
mand (see figure 3) reveals that in industrialised societies
the majority of resources are used for housing and nutrition.
This refers to resources directly contained by consumer
goods as well as to lifecycle-wide (indirect) resource
consumption such as energy used for manufacturing or
distribution. Furthermore, mobility plays a central role here
when analysed separately (e.g. driving to the supermarket
within the field of nutrition) and not integrated within
each demand area (Matthews et al. 2000; Bringezu / Schütz
2001; Kotakorpi / Lähteenoja / Lettenmeier 2008).
In general, higher resource efficiency not only within the
above mentioned fields offers various benefits for society
and economy (e.g. Ritthoff et al. 2007; Bringezu 2004; Van
der Voet et al. 2005; Schmidt-Bleek 2007; Liedtke / Busch
2005). Examples are:
Cost reduction (production and product costs as well
as the reduction of costs during the use-phase),
5
4
3
2
1
0
Worldwide Car Fleet (in bn.)
today 2050
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Global Resource Extraction (in bn. t)
today 2050
Securing raw material supply,
Decreasing environmental impacts during the entire
lifecycle.
Furthermore, resource efficiency facilitates product and
production innovation and opens up new markets for
products with reduced resource input. Here, national
markets as well as international export markets can be addressed.
A study by Roland Berger Consultants points out
that environmental technologies show high market potential
and a dynamic growth around the globe (Bundesministerium
für Umwelt 2007). The six leading markets identified
in this study (environmentally friendly energy production
and storage, energy efficiency, material efficiency, recycling,
sustainable mobility, and sustainable water management)
already represented a total volume of about one
trillion euros in 2005. Considering the average growth rate
of each of these markets, the market for raw material and
material efficiency is expected to have the highest annual
Food and Drinks
(incl. alcoholic drinks)
Apartment,Water, Electricity, Gas
and other fuels
Traffic
Furniture, Appliances, Gadgets and
Equipment for the Household incl. Maintenance
Lodging and Restaurant Services
26 %
19 %
19 %
16 %
9 %
4.473.912
7.696.969
Figure 3: Resource consumption incl. ecological backpack of especially
resource intensive areas of demand in Germany for the year
2000, in percent and 1,000 tons (Source: Acosta-Fernández, 2011)
12.644.777
9.223.308
9.140.765
Ressourceneffizienzatlas
Resource Efficiency Atlas 7