Resource Targets in Europe and Worldwide: An Overview

• Published in: Resources (Basel) 2015-09, Vol.4 (3), p.597-620
• Main Authors: Bahn-Walkowiak, Bettina, Steger, Sören
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: material efficiency; Raw materials; resource efficiency; resource management; resource policy
• ISSN: 2079-9276; 2079-9276
• DOI: 10.3390/resources4030597

For 20 years, the number of resource policy approaches with direct and indirect relations to raw materials, resource and material efficiency has grown enormously at national and international level. This discussion paper makes an inventory of different political and regulatory approaches that contain a direct or indirect reference to resources such as construction materials, industrial minerals, or metals. They are examined and evaluated regarding foci and resource priorities as well as further categories such as target lines, governance levels, indicators used, integration into wider target systems, specification, and implementation. The aim is to provide an overview of the spectrum of resource objectives in international, European, and national strategies, programs, and initiatives. The closer analysis of raw material targets embedded in the policy programs and legal approaches reveals that most goals lack a time frame and a concrete vision, thus remain at a strategic level. To complement the overview, the state of research in the field of modeling and simulation is briefly discussed. Concluding remarks concerning their relation to the objectives identified and the task of target setting complete the discussion.