While it is currently preparing its roadmap to decouple growth from resource use, the European Commission indicated it will publish its flagship initiative on resource efficiency on 26 January. The findings of a study carried out by a consultancy will feed into the revision of the EU´s resource efficiency strategy...

 

A study completed in November 2010 by ´Bio Intelligence Service´ shows that considerable progress has been made on the increase of resource productivity in the EU in the last 40 years. However, there are still "strong disparities" across the EU in terms of resource use: while countries like Germany and the UK have reached absolute dematerialisation (which means that their amount of materials input is decreasing), resource use is still on the rise in other countries like Spain. Indeed, in Spain resource use is growing faster than GDP, notably due to an important development of built infrastructures. ´Bio Intelligence Service´ identifies two categories of Member States in terms of resource use: those who have adopted a pro-active approach to manage natural resources (and therefore go beyond the sheer transposition of EU measures), and those who seem to be in a lag phase in the management of the natural resources use. Being the only Member States who adopted a National Natural Resource Strategy, Finland is cited in the study as an example of good practice. But consultants selected various examples of national initiatives which are contributing to improving resource productivity. They also addressed the potential of diffusing these policy initiatives to other Member States or expanding them to the EU level, as well as the barriers which may be encountered and addressed early on at the stage of policy design.

Despite of some positive progress made on the implementation of the actions promoted by the 2005 resource efficiency strategy, the EU policy initiatives put in place since the 2005 resource efficiency strategy are not enough to deliver all the expected results, the consultancy argues. It highlights the need for a clearer resource efficiency concept with more detailed definitions and targets. According to ´Bio Intelligence Service´, "key factors for a successful implementation of a resource-use related measure include the setting of clear objectives and targets, a better cooperation between policy makers and sectoral representatives, use of synergies across policies, and integration of local specificities."

Finally, the study proposes five promising areas for future action: 1) Setting a more precise formulation of the Strategy, with clearer definitions and targets, and the consideration of new policy options; 2) Raising awareness among stakeholders and a closer cooperation between policy makers, researchers, and sectoral representatives; 3) Improving knowledge, in priority research areas, and the establishment of a basket of indicators; 4) Fostering the development of Member States initiatives through sharing of leading initiatives, and 5) Fostering policy integration, including input and output of economic processes, and a common framework to deal with Waste, Resource use and Sustainable Consumption and Production.