Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development

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e-mail contact: ESTAT-CIRCULAR-ECONOMY@ec.europa.eu

The indicator is part of the Circular Economy monitoring framework. It is used to monitor progress towards a circular economy on the thematic area of 'secondary raw materials'.

In a circular economy, residual materials are recycled and re-injected into the economy as new raw materials - then called 'secondary raw materials'. This may have several benefits, both reducing wastes and increasing the security of raw materials supply. An accurate picture of the European raw materials sector must include the movements of raw materials originating from waste, i.e. secondary raw materials, crossing European boundaries both as imports and exports, as well as of intra-EU trade.

The indicator measures the quantities recyclable waste and scrap as well as other secondary raw materials (by-products) that are shipped between the EU Members States (intra-EU) and across the EU borders (extra-EU).

Many non-hazardous waste streams are regarded as valuable resources because they are potentially an important source of raw materials. Overall, cross-border movements of recyclable waste have significantly increased over the last decade.

This indicator is clearly relevant for obtaining a picture of trends in the markets for selected secondary raw materials, at both national and EU levels.

The indicator measures the quantities recyclable waste and scrap as well as other secondary raw materials (by-products) that are shipped between the EU Members States (intra-EU) and across the EU borders (extra-EU).

The indicator includes the following variables:

• Intra EU trade of selected recyclable raw materials (measured as the Imports from EU countries).
• Imports from non-EU countries and exports to non-EU countries of selected recyclable raw materials (as regards extra-EU trade).

Data are disaggregated by EU-Member State and by category of material, following the table of correspondence between products (CN-codes) and materials.

This data set is taken from International Trade in Goods Statistics (ITGS) published by Eurostat. The data measure the physical quantity of goods traded between the EU Member States (intra-EU trade) and of goods traded by the EU Member States with non-EU countries (extra-EU trade). ‘European’ means that the statistics are compiled on the basis of the concepts and definitions set out in EU legislation. ‘National’ statistics, i.e. statistics published at national level by the Member States, are compiled on the basis of national rules which may differ from EU rules.

Product coverage:

The scope of the “recyclable raw material” is defined and approximated in terms of relevant product codes selected from the list of Combined Nomenclature codes used in International Trade in Goods Statistics.

This indicator includes the following selected types of material:

• Plastics, including rubber
• Paper and cardboard
• Metal - ferrous
• Precious metal
• Copper, aluminium and nickel

The total includes the complete list of products, not only the selected materials showed in the table.

Trade value in thousand euro.

Trade quantity in tonne (net mass).

Calendar year.

The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link in "Related metadata").

ESS

Data source: European Statistical System (ESS)

Data provider: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat). International trade in goods statistics (comext).

Trade in recyclable raw materials by partner (env_trdrrm).

Every year

Indicator is updated annually.

T+1 year

New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.

All EU MS

Data are presented for all EU Member States.

The EU aggregate is also available.

All EU MS

Data are comparable between all EU Member States.

> 10 years

Presented time series starts in 2004.

> 4 data points

Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.

Analysis of indicator is presented in Commission Staff Working Document.

Eurostat, Statistics Explained: International trade statistics - background.

Eurostat, Statistics Explained: International trade in goods.

See table cei_srm020

Eurostat dedicated section on Circular Economy.

Eurostat dedicated section on International trade in goods.

DG ENV, EU Circular Economy Action Plan.

Copyrights:

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