Statistics Sweden

Environmental Accounts and Environment

Solna Strandväg 86, SE-171 54 STOCKHOLM

Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) provide an aggregate overview, in thousand tonnes per year, of the material flows into and out of an economy. EW-MFA cover solid, gaseous, and liquid materials, except for bulk flows of water and air. Like the system of national accounts, EW-MFA constitute a multi-purpose information system. The detailed material flows provide a rich empirical database for numerous analytical purposes. Further, EW-MFA are used to derive various material flow indicators.

The National Statistical Institute (NSI) sent to Eurostat on yearly basis the EW-MFA. The accounts comprise the following reporting tables:

• Table A 'Domestic extraction (DE)': records material flows from the environment into the economy in a detailed breakdown by type of material
• Table B 'Imports - total imports (intra- and extra-EU) and Table D 'Exports – total exports (intra- and extra-EU)': These physical trade tables record the imports and exports of products in thousand tonnes and grouped by materials.
• Table F 'Domestic processed output (DPO)': records material flows from the economy to the domestic environment (e.g. emissions to air, water and soil)
• Table G 'Balancing items': reports some memorandum items which are necessary to have the full material balance related to a national economy
• Table H 'Indicators': presents the EW-MFA derived indicators which are automatically calculated from Table A to G
• Table I 'Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME)': records material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (MFA-RME). Some items are calculated automatically based on data reported in Table A and Table I

EW-MFA record physical flows of materials broken down by type of flow and by type of material.

The type of flow dimension corresponds to the EW-MFA questionnaire reporting tables and derived indicators, namely:

• domestic extraction (Table A)
• physical imports (Table B)
• physical exports (Table D)
• domestic processed output (Table F)
• balancing items (Table G)
• direct material input (indicator)
• domestic material consumption (indicator)
• physical trade balance (indicator)

The breakdown by type of material employs a classification of materials. This EW-MFA classification of materials is hierarchical with main material flow categories (1-digit level). Each main category is further broken down, maximal down to 4-digit-level:

    1-digit: material category;

    2-digit: material class;

    3-digit: material group;

    4-digit: material sub-group.

The data refer to national economies as defined in the system of national accounts.

Conceptually economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) belong to the international system of environmental economic accounting (SEEA-Central Framework). Furthermore, EW-MFA is one of several physical modules of Eurostat's programme on European environmental economic accounts. It is covered by Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.

EW-MFA are closely related to concepts and definitions of national accounts. Most notably they follow the residence principle, i.e. they record material flows related to resident unit's activities, regardless where those occur geographically.

Further methodological guidelines are provided in various publications by Eurostat (see Eurostat website > Environment > Methodology, heading: 'Material flows and resource productivity').

For more detailed information please see also 3.1.

Statistical units change according to the different data sources (e.g. agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics, production statistics, geological surveys, energy statistics, foreign trade statistics etc.) which EW-MFA are based on.

EW-MFA refer to the entire national economy of the reporting country (see also 3.3 'Coverage - sector')).

EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary (between the environment and the economy) on the input side or on the output side. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units).

Material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW).

Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the ROW. Information on natural resources extracted and traded products is provided by different statistical units.

Sweden

Please see the table in 3.8.1.

Not applicable because EW-MFA are not reported as indices.

The unit of measure is thousand tonnes.

The data refer to the calendar years.

Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) are legally covered by Regulation (EU) 691/2011 on European Environmental Economic Accounts.

Not applicable in national level this information is required at European level only.

There is no confidentiality in the reported data.

There is no confidentiality in the reported data.

https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/publishing-calendar/

(Subject Environment, Organization Statistics Sweden, and make sure the month of December is included in the time interval)

https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/publishing-calendar/

(Subject Environment, Organization Statistics Sweden, and make sure the month of December is included in the time interval)

The release calendar is updated anually at the end of the year, which means the publication date for the EW-MFA is publically available approximately one year before the publication date.

Also, at the end of the national news release for the EW-MFA, the date for next publication is included.

Yearly

The EW-MFA are published nationally on 2023-01-24 at https://www.scb.se/mi1301-en including a news release.

The EW-MFA are published nationally on 2023-01-24 at  https://www.scb.se/mi1301-en (scroll down to “Economy-Wide Material Flow Account” under “Tables and Graphs” and “Tables in the Statistical Database”).

http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__MI__MI1301__MI1301C/MI1301MFTA01N/

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

For the Swedish Material Flow Accounts, there is no such thing as micro data as the statistics are compiled based on models and a number of national data.

Not applicable.

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

National documentation is available at https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/miljo/miljoekonomi-och-hallbar-utveckling/miljorakenskaper/#_Dokumentation (Materialflödesräkenskaper).

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

This is the main international document describing the quality of swedish EW-MFA data.

National documentation is found here: https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/miljo/miljoekonomi-och-hallbar-utveckling/miljorakenskaper/#_Dokumentation (Materialflödesräkenskaper).

In addition, internal documentation exists at Statistics Swede: work documentation and QA/QC checkling lists.

See https://www.scb.se/en/About-us/main-activity/quality-work/.

Reported data is generally considered to be of good quality. Any exceptions are described in Annex 3. (see 13.1).

Some references where Swedish MFA data is used or mentioned:

- Statistics Sweden (2013): http://www.scb.se/mi1301-en (click on Tables and Graphs)

- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (2004; report 5368): http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Documents/publikationer/620-5368-X.pdf

- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (2012; report 6503): http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Documents/publikationer6400/978-91-620-6503-4.pdf

General comment:

The interest we see for the MFA figures at the moment is mainly to explain how the Swedish MFA data can be interpreted in the international data sets. Swedish industry is depending on forest and mineral resources and thus there is good national data for these areas already before the MFA data were established as a statistical area.

We can also see an increasing interest for measuring resource efficiency in general from especially our ministry of environment and energy and the Swedish environment protection agency on the basis of the EU strategy for resource efficiency and circular economy.

User satisfaction is detected by meetings organized by Statistics Sweden. More information on these meetings: https://www.scb.se/om-scb/scbs-verksamhet/rad-och-namnder/anvandarrad/anvandarradet-for-miljo-och-miljorakenskaper/.

Also, user satisfaction is noted through comments from users when new statistics is published and also by comments and questions recieved throughout the year.

Data are complete for all categories but a few, these are described in Annex 3 (see 13.1).

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

Please use Annex 3 for providing an assessment of the overall quality of the reported data. 

Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.

Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The EW-MFA is compiled from a variety of national data sources published at different times of the year ranging from springtime to early December.

The compilation of the EW-MFA generally takes place in October-December. Results are published nationally as soon as possible, which is in mid January. No early estimates are made.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The EW-MFA is published nationally according to what is set in the national publishing calendar and reported to Eurostat at latest April 30st.

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

Data on EW-MFA are compiled according to harmonised guidelines provided by Eurostat and hence comparable across European countries reporting EW-MFA data to Eurostat.

Not applicable because physical imports and exports as recorded in EW-MFA are not specified by origin and/or destination.

Please see the table in 15.2.1.1.

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

Please use below table for explaining b)-flags (breaks in time series):

See subsections.

Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.

Reported data are following the EW-MFA handbook and thus coherent with the National Accounts.

Data are internally consistent. For categories where data sources differ for different year in the time series every effort has been taken to ensure that the resulting data is coherent.

The collection, compilation and dissemination of the Swedish MFA required approximately 180 working hours during 2023.

Time series are checked annually and revised whenever better data become available. Because of this, time series are always consistent.

Revisions in the 2021 EW-MFA questionnaire:

- 1990-2019 - Table A - MF1.3M Net increment of timber stock, new areas have been added/subtracted from what is considered protected woods, alas the whole timeserie is revised. 

- 2015, 2018 and 2019 - Table A - MF1.4.3 Hunting and gathering, small differences in reported numbers of hunted beavers year 2015 and revised numbers of reindeer "hunted"/owned during 2018-2019.

- 2016-2019 - Table A - MF3.3 Slate cannot be separated from MF39 for the years 2016-2019. 

- 2016-2019 - Table A - MF3.9 revised data seperation.

- 2008-2009 - Table B and D MF4.2 revised data due to revised import/export data.

- 2020 Table A - MF 3.8 new data were available.

revision in the 2023 data:

-2019-2020 Table A -MF1.3.1 and MF 3.4 revisted with new data.

-2016-2019 - Table A - MF3.3 Slate cannot be separated from MF39 for the years 2016-2019.

Revisions in the 2020 EW-MFA questionnaire:

- 2013 - Table A - MF.1.1.A   Other crops (excluding fodder crops) n.e.c. - Best data source for subcategory energy crops (Energy agency : Unprocessed wood fuel) existing for 2013 and later years. 1998-2012 estimated using other data sources available

- 2013 -  Table A - MF.1.3.2  Wood fuel and other extraction - Best data source for wood fuel (Energy agency : Unprocessed wood fuel) existing for 2013 and later years. 1998-2012 estimated using other data sources available

- 2004-2018 - Table A - MF.1.1.9 -  New estimated data introduced.

- 2018 - Table A - MF.1.2.1 - Correction or input error for year 2018.

- 2013-2017 - Table A - MF.1.2.2 - Minor adjustments year 2013-2017 due to improved calculations.

- 2018 - Tabe A - MF.1.3.1 - 2018 revised data due to revised provisional data.

- 2018 - Tabe A - MF.1.3.2 - Minor revision of last year’s data, 2018. 

- 1998-2018 - Table A - MF.1.3.M - All years are calculated as five year averages using a model, this implies estimates for earlier years might change. We always report based on most recent published statistics available.

- 1998-2018 - Table A - MF.2.2.1 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

- 1998-2018 - Table A - MF.2.2.3 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

- 1998-2018 - Table A - MF.2.2.4 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

- 1998-2018 - Table A - MF.2.2.6 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

- 2018 - Table A - MF.3.4 - 2018 revised data

- 2016-2018 - Table A - MF.3.3 - New data from 2016, cannot be separated from MF.3.9 - 2016-2019 due to confidentiality. 

- 2016-2018 - Table A - MF.3.9 - New data from 2016.
 

Differences between current and last years reported data:

 C = data has become confidential

In 2019, the following revisions took place:

- 2013 - Table A - MF.1.1.A   Other crops (excluding fodder crops) n.e.c. - Best data source for subcategory energy crops (Energy agency : Unprocessed wood fuel) existing for 2013 and later years. 1998-2012 estimated using other data sources available

- 2013 - Table A - MF.1.3.2  Wood fuel and other extraction - Best data source for wood fuel (Energy agency : Unprocessed wood fuel) existing for 2013 and later years. 1998-2012 estimated using other data sources available

- 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.1.1.7 - Time series revised, additional sorts of vegetables added

- 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.1.1.10 - Time series revised. Now including both energy crops and flowers and ornamental plants

- 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.1.2.2.1 - Minor adjustments all years due to improved calculations.

- 2017 - Table A - MF.1.2.2.2 - 2017 revised data

- 2013-2017 - Table A - MF.1.3.1 - 2013-2017 revised data due to revised data on fellings.

- 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.1.3.M - All years are calculated as five year averages using a model, this implies estimates for earlier years might change. We always report based on most recent published statistics available.

- 2009-2017 - Table A - MF.1.4.1 - Time series revised

- 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.1.4.3 - Time series revised. Fine tuning of last year revision with additional species. Also inclusion of reindeer (however all reindeer in Sweden are owned animals, not hunted)

 - 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.2.2.1 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

 - 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.2.2.3 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

 - 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.2.2.4 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2 

 - 1998-2017 - Table A - MF.2.2.6 - Time series revised, improved model for non-iron ores MF.2.2

 - 2017 - Table A - MF.3.4 - 2017 revised data

Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.

Data sources used to produce economy-wide material flow accounts are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 (and Annex) and 18.1.2.

Please use Annex 1 to report the detailed data sources for questionnaire tables A, B, D, F and G.

Not applicable as Table I is not reported.

Annually

Data are collected using nationally available data sources. No surveys. For details please see Annex 1 (18.1).

Time series for all material categories are compared with time series produced one year ago. All differences are analysed to ensure that changes are due to actual revisions and no errors occur. Also, results for the last reference year is compared to the previous reference year fo all material categories and any significant changes are analysed and checked against other available data (example: statistical news for indata providing explanations).

Generally just following the EW-MFA handbook and using data sources according to Annex 1( 18.1.1) National models see Annex 2 (18.5.2).

Not applicable.

See Annex 2.

None

None

A residence adjustment has been implemented in 2020 for the years 2008-2019. The method is based on information from the national accounts and transport statistics and is harmonised with Sweden’s AEA and PEFA reporting. It is currently not possible to extend the residence adjustment further back in time due to data limitations. 

No significant problems.

Not applicable; i.e. in EW-MFA no time series adjustment necessary.

Not applicable.