The material footprint, also named raw material consumption, estimates the global extraction of materials triggered by final consumption and investments in a given economy. It includes all materials required along the full production chain of a product, irrespective of the industry or country where the emissions occurred.
As an example, the material footprint of a smartphone purchased in the EU might include:
- Metals: copper (for wiring), aluminium (for casing), lithium (for battery), gold (for connectors), and other metals (for various components)
- Minerals: silicon (for microchips)
- Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas (for energy used in manufacturing and transportation)
- Biomass: wood pulp (for packaging)
- Other materials: plastics, glass, and ceramics (for various components)
A large share of the materials are extracted outside the EU, but are part of the EU’s material footprint, as the phone is bought in the EU.