Material and energy efficiency

Society has an impact on the environment by extracting resources and energy and generating waste and pollution. It is important to use natural resources sustainably and preserve the environment in order to maintain ecological balance and ensure economic growth.

Recent decades have witnessed a significant technological development, with production becoming more energy and material resource efficient and versatile. Indicators compiled on the basis of material and energy balances can be used to characterise material and energy use and resource efficiency of the economy.

Statistics on material and energy efficiency provide an overview of the following:

• how skilfully and effectively are resources used in Estonia;
• how much value added is created per one kilogramme of physical resources used;
• what is the gross domestic product per unit of energy consumed;
• how much domestic raw material is used;
• how much material the economy has consumed;
• how much domestic raw material is consumed per capita and per unit of area;
• what is the physical trade balance.

The data are needed to plan national development, develop a sustainable and competitive energy sector, monitor the circular economy action plan and, more broadly, the sustainability of the country.