The Climate Bonus

6Less waste

A resource-efficient economy

Key messages

• Material efficiency is just as important as energy efficiency for meeting climate targets: over half of all greenhouse gas emissions come from making material goods such as cars, houses, food, clothing and appliances, and these emissions are growing as material consumption increases.
• We can reduce our consumption of materials by designing out waste from the start of the production process: creating products that are durable and upgradeable; choosing low-impact materials; cutting waste; minimising packaging; and increasing recycling, reuse and repair.
• There is a wide range of co-benefits. We can avoid resource-scarcity impacts, including supply constraints, price spikes and conflict; reduce ...