Material Footprint and Circular Economy for a Sustainable Consumption and Production Pattern

Abstract The aim of this study is to explore the factors that influence the material footprint (MF), which represents the total amount of raw materials used in the production of goods and services. MF provides a more comprehensive measure of resource use across supply chains, capturing aspects of environmental degradation not addressed by conventional indicators. MF serves as a measure of material consumption across global supply-chain networks that connect production and consumption. Moreover, reducing the MF can promote efficient resource use and encourage sustainable production and consumption patterns. In this study, we explore what socioeconomic determinants affect MF in the European Union. We have utilized a dataset comprising observations from unbalanced panel data of 27 European countries spanning the period from 2000 to 2021. The main findings suggest that GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita, the industry share, fertility rate, and taxes contribute to an increase in MF, while the degree of urbanization, research and development (R&D), and resource productivity rate reduce MF. Our findings have policy relevance within the EU’s sustainability goals, providing insights into the factors that can drive resource efficiency as outlined in the Circular Economy (CE) Action Plan.