SDG Indicator 8.4.1 | Sustainable developments Goals

SDG Indicator 8.4.1: Material Footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

1. Key features and metadata

Definition: This indicator measures the attribution of global material extraction to the domestic final demand of a country.

Sub-indicator	Disaggregated by
EN_MAT_FTPRPG Material footprint per unit of GDP, by type of raw material (kilograms per constant 2015 United States dollar)	No current data disaggregation available.
EN_MAT_FTPRPC Material footprint per capita, by type of raw material (tonnes per capita)
EN_MAT_FTPRTN Material footprint, by type of raw material (tonnes)

Sub-indicator

Disaggregated by

EN_MAT_FTPRPG

Material footprint per unit of GDP, by type of raw material (kilograms per constant 2015 United States dollar)

No current data disaggregation available.

EN_MAT_FTPRPC

Material footprint per capita, by type of raw material (tonnes per capita)

EN_MAT_FTPRTN

Material footprint, by type of raw material (tonnes)

Sources of information: National Statistical Offices andvarious national and international datasets in the domain of material flow accounts, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, and energy statistics.

Related SDG Indicators: 12.2.1 (duplicates), 12.2.2 and 8.4.2 (Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP).

2. Data availability by region, SDG Global Database, as of 02 July 2025

3. Proposed disaggregation, links to policymaking and its impact

Proposed disaggregation	Link to policymaking	Impact
Material footprint by material category (tonnes)(UNEP 2023d; United Nations Environment Programme International Resource Panel [UNEP-IRP] n.d.): Biomass Fossil fuels Metal ores Non-metallic minerals Applies to: EN_MAT_FTPRTN	This disaggregation is aimed at tracking the material footprint by material categories (i.e. biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores, and non-metallic minerals). It can be used to assess overall trends as well as the evolution per category of natural resources used. It can also be used for identifying where opportunities lie for a reduction in material extraction and its uses. This is necessary information for policymakers in addressing the issue of the overuse of natural resources and targeting appropriate measures to reduce those uses, globally and by end use sectors(UNEP 2023d) –with developed countries taking the lead in decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. This disaggregation is consistent with the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP)(UN 2012).	The assessment of material footprint use by type of material is necessary for tracking the use of each resource by type and for achieving the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The decoupling is needed to ensure that population growth does not negatively impact the availability of materials in the environment and ensures sustainability for future generations. The availability of such information is necessary to drive a shift in consumer demand towards more sustainable, circular and durable behaviour.
Proportion of the material footprint accounted for by trade of materials (%)(UNEP 2023d; UNEP-IRP n.d.): Raw Material Equivalents of Imports (RME_IM) Raw Material Equivalents of Exports (RME_EX) Applies to: EN_MAT_FTPRTN	The purpose of this disaggregation is to estimate the share of the national material footprint attributable to the trade in materials. It gives relevant indications to decision-makers on the level of reliance of one country on the rest of the world, and vice versa, for meeting its internal demand for materials. It is also useful information on the interventions needed to reduce that country’s material footprint and decouple economic growth and natural resource use through leveraging trade(European Environment Agency [EEA] 2023; One Planet Network [OPN] n.d.). Interventions can drive the reduction of material use through changing consumption patterns and promoting the circular economy. For instance, decreasing consumption, shifting to goods or services that need less material, enhancing the durability of goods, and fostering recycling(EEA 2023). Developed countries should take the lead, as they often heavily rely on resource-intensive imports from less developed countries. This disaggregation is consistent with the 10YFP(UN 2012).	The availability of information related to imports and/or exports of raw materials paints a clear picture of the dependence of countries on each other and how the environmental impact of the country of origin can be minimized through reducing such dependencies. Although the economy of the country of origin might be affected, promoting circular economy approaches to the country of origin or the country of use conserves the environment and accelerates the shift by countries to circular economies.
Proportion of the material footprint accounted for by economic sector according to ISIC rev.4 (%) Applies to: EN_MAT_FTPRTN	This disaggregation provides an understanding about the different needs for raw materials per economic sector. The data would equip policymakers with the knowledge to adapt and/or develop policies and interventions needed to reduce the material footprint of certain sectors and decouple economic growth and natural resource use. It might also lead to innovations focusing on reducing the material need for the most material-intensive sectors. This disaggregation is consistent with the 10YFP(UN 2012).	Measures and interventions to reduce the impact of material-intensive sectors lead to a reduction of natural resources extraction. This would encourage the use of circular approaches for reducing reliance on the extraction of materials, increase innovation and reliance on recycling and reuse of existing material within the economy and accelerate the shift by countries to circular economies.

Proposed disaggregation

Link to policymaking

Impact

Material footprint by material category (tonnes)(UNEP 2023d; United Nations Environment Programme International Resource Panel [UNEP-IRP] n.d.):

Biomass
Fossil fuels
Metal ores
Non-metallic minerals

Applies to:

EN_MAT_FTPRTN

This disaggregation is aimed at tracking the material footprint by material categories (i.e. biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores, and non-metallic minerals). It can be used to assess overall trends as well as the evolution per category of natural resources used. It can also be used for identifying where opportunities lie for a reduction in material extraction and its uses. This is necessary information for policymakers in addressing the issue of the overuse of natural resources and targeting appropriate measures to reduce those uses, globally and by end use sectors(UNEP 2023d) –with developed countries taking the lead in decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation.

This disaggregation is consistent with the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP)(UN 2012).

The assessment of material footprint use by type of material is necessary for tracking the use of each resource by type and for achieving the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The decoupling is needed to ensure that population growth does not negatively impact the availability of materials in the environment and ensures sustainability for future generations.

The availability of such information is necessary to drive a shift in consumer demand towards more sustainable, circular and durable behaviour.

Proportion of the material footprint accounted for by trade of materials (%)(UNEP 2023d; UNEP-IRP n.d.):

Raw Material Equivalents of Imports (RME_IM)
Raw Material Equivalents of Exports (RME_EX)

Applies to:

EN_MAT_FTPRTN

The purpose of this disaggregation is to estimate the share of the national material footprint attributable to the trade in materials. It gives relevant indications to decision-makers on the level of reliance of one country on the rest of the world, and vice versa, for meeting its internal demand for materials. It is also useful information on the interventions needed to reduce that country’s material footprint and decouple economic growth and natural resource use through leveraging trade(European Environment Agency [EEA] 2023; One Planet Network [OPN] n.d.). Interventions can drive the reduction of material use through changing consumption patterns and promoting the circular economy. For instance, decreasing consumption, shifting to goods or services that need less material, enhancing the durability of goods, and fostering recycling(EEA 2023). Developed countries should take the lead, as they often heavily rely on resource-intensive imports from less developed countries.

This disaggregation is consistent with the 10YFP(UN 2012).

The availability of information related to imports and/or exports of raw materials paints a clear picture of the dependence of countries on each other and how the environmental impact of the country of origin can be minimized through reducing such dependencies. Although the economy of the country of origin might be affected, promoting circular economy approaches to the country of origin or the country of use conserves the environment and accelerates the shift by countries to circular economies.

Proportion of the material footprint accounted for by economic sector according to ISIC rev.4 (%)

Applies to:

EN_MAT_FTPRTN

This disaggregation provides an understanding about the different needs for raw materials per economic sector. The data would equip policymakers with the knowledge to adapt and/or develop policies and interventions needed to reduce the material footprint of certain sectors and decouple economic growth and natural resource use. It might also lead to innovations focusing on reducing the material need for the most material-intensive sectors.

This disaggregation is consistent with the 10YFP(UN 2012).

Measures and interventions to reduce the impact of material-intensive sectors lead to a reduction of natural resources extraction. This would encourage the use of circular approaches for reducing reliance on the extraction of materials, increase innovation and reliance on recycling and reuse of existing material within the economy and accelerate the shift by countries to circular economies.