Production, Consumption and Waste

Materials

Materials are any solid substances used in human activity. Most familiar as materials are substances that are used in everyday life such as plastic, glass, concrete and steel. However, materials also include clothing, all the items in homes, buildings used for living and working in and vehicles used for mobility. While monetary flows in the economy are well accounted for, flows of materials generally are not. Material flows are increasing in Victoria as part of a global trend and continue to underpin contemporary economic growth. By understanding and quantifying material flows which underpin our economic success, we gain greater appreciation of both their importance to the economy, and their environmental impacts.

This section describes Victoria’s material flow patterns and the effect that these have on the environment. Included are data on the flow of materials from primary industries, manufacturing and construction, and waste. New indicators that analyse the amounts of water and energy that are invested into common materials and consumer products are also included, as are case studies of some of the impacts of materials use on the environment. This section also provides an overview of policy responses to the materials challenge, and presents recommendations for adapting to a more materials-efficient future.

Part 3.3 - Materials (PDF - 5.7 MB)