Improving the climate impact of raw material sourcing

The extraction and processing of raw materials contribute to about half of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the EU, non-energy and non-agricultural raw materials represent 18% of GHG emissions associated with consumption. This European Environment Agency (EEA) report demonstrates the climate change mitigation potential of climate-friendly sourcing practices. It focuses on a group of raw materials that are consumed in large volumes in the EU, are associated with significant levels of GHG emissions from their production, and are sourced both inside and outside the EU. The list includes copper, iron, gold, limestone and gypsum, bauxite and aluminum, wood, chemical minerals and fertilizers, and salt. This report has identified examples of practice for these eight categories of raw materials.