Northern Ireland's material footprint increased by 12.5% in 2022
Date published:
A new research report published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for the Economy present material footprint estimates for Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2022.
Key findings
- Northern Ireland's material footprint was estimated at 39,270 kilotonnes in 2022, an increase of 12.5% from the previous year (34,920 kilotonnes in 2021).
- Material footprint per capita was estimated at 20.6 tonnes per capita in 2022, up from 18.3 tonnes per capita in 2021. This compares with a UK estimate of 20.1 tonnes per capita in 2022.
- The 2022 figure represents a 27.3% increase from a recent low of 30,836 kilotonnes in 2020, a period that coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Non-metallic minerals, including those used in construction, represented the largest share of the material footprint in 2022, accounting for 41% of the total.
- Biomass was the second highest material in demand, accounting for 28% of the total footprint, followed by fossil fuels at 22% and ore materials at 10%.
- Northern Ireland's material footprint peaked in 2005 at 40,761 kilotonnes before falling to a series low of 30,094 kilotonnes in 2010.
About the publication
The full report provides an overview of Northern Ireland's total material footprint estimates between 2001 and 2022, including detailed breakdowns by material group and per capita estimates over time. Material footprint is a consumption-based measure of the domestic and global extraction of raw materials needed to meet the final demands for goods and services. The estimates were produced by the University of Leeds and will aid reporting on the decarbonisation priority within the Department for the Economy's Business Plan 2025-26.
Further information
Read the full report: Material footprint in Northern Ireland 2001 to 2022
View data tables: Material footprint in Northern Ireland 2001-2022