Back to top
Eurostat logo
Reference metadata Information message

Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

For more information, please consult our metadata website section.

Close
Graphic logo

Circular material use rate (cei_srm030)

DownloadPrint

Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

Need help? Contact the Eurostat user support

Eurostat Quality Profile

Quality concept Rating
Source data

ESS.

Frequency of dissemination Every year
Timeliness T+1 year
Reference area All EU MS
Comparability - geographical All EU MS
Coverage - Time > 10 years
Comparability - over time > 4 data points

Short metadata
Full metadata

The indicator measures the share of material recycled and fed back into the economy - thus saving extraction of primary raw materials - in overall material use. The circular material use, also known as circularity rate is defined as the ratio of the circular use of materials to the overall material use.

The overall material use is measured by summing up the aggregate domestic material consumption (DMC) and the circular use of materials. DMC is defined in economy-wide material flow accounts. The circular use of materials is approximated by the amount of waste recycled in domestic recovery plants minus imported waste destined for recovery plus exported waste destined for recovery abroad. Waste recycled in domestic recovery plants comprises the recovery operations R2 to R11 - as defined in the Waste Framework Directive 75/442/EEC. The imports and exports of waste destined for recycling - i.e. the amount of imported and exported waste bound for recovery – are approximated from the European statistics on international trade in goods.

A higher circularity rate value means that more secondary materials substitute for primary raw materials thus reducing the environmental impacts of extracting primary material.

30 January 2024
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable

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").

Percentage of total material use.

Not Applicable