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Methods and initial results for a metals and minerals footprint estimate for the UK 2025

Abstract

Understanding the global environmental impacts of commodity consumption is necessary to inform evidence-based action. The Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption (GEIC) indicator is a key data source to support this, but data from mined commodities are currently out of its scope. Their inclusion would broaden its applicability and meet the needs of a number of additional stakeholders.

This report therefore aims to begin filling this data gap, presenting a proposed method for including mined commodities within the GEIC dataset, and an initial, prototype dataset of material footprint (tonnes of consumption) using the Input-Output Trade Analysis (IOTA) framework that underpins GEIC, which can act as the basis for further potential methodological improvement and could eventually be extended to provide information on environmental impacts.

Accompanying the report are a series of datasets, provided in Excel format:

  • UK consumption aggregated annual results 2005 to 2020
  • UK consumption commodity results 2005 to 2019
  • UK consumption producing country results 2005 to 2019
  • Global consumption disaggregated results 2005 to 2018

Please note that the global consumption disaggregated results spreadsheet was replaced in December 2025. The revised spreadsheet replaces data for the year 2019 only with data for the years 2005 to 2018. Data for 2019 have been excluded due to some discrepancies.

These resources may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need copies in a different or more accessible format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2025·10·01

Citation
Croft, S., Harris, M., Wood, E., Titley, M. & West, C. 2025. Methods and initial results for the UK’s metals and minerals footprint. JNCC Report 806. JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091

Lineage
This report was produced by JNCC in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, under contract to Defra.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2025·12·11

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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