Measuring our resource use - a vital tool in creating a resource-efficient EU

1 April 2010

Europe is using ever more of the world’s resources, and is now more dependent on imported resources than any other global region. Yet we’re also throwing away over 5 billion euros worth of valuable resources
every year.

Friends of the Earth Europe is calling on the European Union to take the first steps to tackle this issue by ensuring that it measures resource use and adopts policies to increase resource efficiency, such as higher recycling targets. The EU should also devise long-term targets and strategies in order to reduce our use of the world’s resources.

    • Agriculture

      Food and farming in Europe and its global impacts

    • Agrofuels

      Plant-based fuels from agriculture. Also known as biofuels

    • Biodiversity

      Species protection in Europe and around the globe

    • GMOs

      Genetically modified crops and organisms

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Biodiversity

      Species protection in Europe and around the globe

    • Extractive industries

      Oil and gas exploration, and mining

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Materials and waste

      Reducing, reusing and recycling resources

    • Resource use

      Europe’s consumption of land, materials, water and carbon

    • Shale gas

      Unconventional gas and the extraction process known as ‘fracking’

    • Tar sands

      Unconventional oil. Also known as oil sands

    • Water use

      Measuring Europe’s water footprint