Materials Count : The Case for Material Flows Analysis

The rising population and industrial growth place increasing strains on a variety of material and energy resources. Understanding how to make the most economically and environmentally efficient use of materials will require an understanding of the flow of materials from the time a material is extracted through processing, manufacturing, use, and its ultimate destination as a waste or reusable resource. Materials Count examines the usefulness of creating and maintaining material flow accounts for developing sound public policy, evaluates the technical basis for material flows analysis, assesses the current state of material flows information, and discusses who should have institutional responsibility for collecting, maintaining, and providing access to additional data for material flow accounts.

The rising population and industrial growth place increasing strains on a variety ofmaterial and energy resources. Understanding how to make the most economicallyand environmentally efficient use of materials will require an understanding of theflow of materials from the time a material is extracted through processing, manufacturing,use, and its ultimate destination as a waste or reusable resource. MaterialsCount examines the usefulness of creating and maintaining material flow accountsfor developing sound public policy, evaluates the technical basis for material flowsanalysis, assesses the current state of material flows information, and discusses whoshould have institutional responsibility for collecting, maintaining, and providingaccess to additional data for material flow accounts. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Introduction2 Material Flows Accounting Definitions and System Structure3 Broad Context for Material and Energy Flows Information4 Material Flows Accounting: Uses and Usefulness5 Material Flows Information in the United States6 The Importance of Partnership in the Conduct of Material Flows Accounting7 Research Challenges for Material Flows Accounting8 Implementation StrategyReferencesAppendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee MembersAppendix B: Information Provided to the CommitteeAppendix C: Detailed Classification of Material InputsAppendix D: Detailed Classification of Material OutputsAppendix E: Classification of Material Stock ChangesColor Plates