UK Consumption of materials is 20% more than the global average

Each person in the UK consumes an average of 15.3 tonnes of material each year, compared to the global average of 12.2 tonnes per capita. Of the materials used in the UK, 7.5 per cent is recycled or given a second life, with the rest likely lost to landfill or incineration.

The UK’s per capita material use is nearly double sustainable levels of eight tonnes per person per year, says the new ‘Circularity Gap Report’ released recently.

The report examined the UK economy’s material use for the first time and has found that adopting more circular, sustainable solutions could cut material use by 40 per cent, decreasing the UK’s carbon footprint by 43 per cent. Globally, 70 per cent of emissions come from using and handling materials.

In the UK, 7.5 per cent of the materials used per person end up being used again, slightly above the global average of 7.2 per cent. The remaining 92.5 per cent of materials do not see a second life for a variety of reasons. ​​

The UK are guilty of overconsumption of materials, this overconsumption has a significant effect on waste management. Of all the waste treated in the UK, around 56.5 per cent is recycled, while five per cent is incinerated and 24 per cent is landfilled. The remaining 15 per cent is treated in wastewater treatment plants or spread on land after having been treated in anaerobic digestion plants

The reports point to the adoption of circular economy principles as the solution. The recommendations fall under six categories to tackle material use and lower emissions while narrowing the UK’s Circularity Gap:

1. Build a circular built environment;

2. Shift to a circular food system;

3. Champion circular manufacturing;

4. Rethink transport and mobility;

5. Welcome a circular lifestyle;

6. Tackle the UK's import footprint.

The report states that if the UK was to implement all of its recommendations, the economy could become 14.1 per cent circular—almost double the current level of 7.5 per cent – and start closing the circularity gap.

Reference - Savannah Coombe