Global scenarios of resource and emission savings from material efficiency in residential buildings and cars

TLDR

Material production accounts for a quarter of global GHG emissions, and resource‑efficiency and circular‑economy strategies promise reductions, yet detailed assessments of their potential are lacking; material efficiency is the third pillar of deep decarbonization for residential buildings and passenger vehicles. The study presents a global‑scale analysis of material efficiency for passenger vehicles and residential buildings. The analysis estimates future changes in material flows and energy use driven by increased yields, lightweight design, material substitution, extended service life, improved service efficiency, reuse, and recycling. The strategies can cut cumulative global GHG emissions by 20–52 Gt CO₂‑eq in residential buildings and 13–26 Gt CO₂‑eq in passenger vehicles, with wood construction, reduced floorspace, ride sharing, and car sharing offering the greatest potential.

Abstract

Abstract Material production accounts for a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Resource-efficiency and circular-economy strategies, both industry and demand-focused, promise emission reductions through reducing material use, but detailed assessments of their GHG reduction potential are lacking. We present a global-scale analysis of material efficiency for passenger vehicles and residential buildings. We estimate future changes in material flows and energy use due to increased yields, light design, material substitution, extended service life, and increased service efficiency, reuse, and recycling. Together, these strategies can reduce cumulative global GHG emissions until 2050 by 20–52 Gt CO 2 -eq (residential buildings) and 13–26 Gt CO 2 e-eq (passenger vehicles), depending on policy assumptions. Next to energy efficiency and low-carbon energy supply, material efficiency is the third pillar of deep decarbonization for these sectors. For residential buildings, wood construction and reduced floorspace show the highest potential. For passenger vehicles, it is ride sharing and car sharing.