The Impact of Selected Material Flows on the Development of OECD Countries Located in Europe

Abstract

Mining and processing of raw materials are at the beginning of all industrial value chains. As global demand for raw materials grows, basic raw materials will continue to play a key role. Global value chains have become a dominant feature of world trade. The process of production of goods from raw materials to the finished product, intended for the final consumer, is carried out primarily where the necessary professional and material prerequisites are available, at competitive costs and quality. Although the EU has a long tradition of mining and processing raw materials, as well as rich reserves of aggregates and non-metallic minerals, some metals such as copper and zinc, but also some critical raw materials. However, their use is not optimal for various reasons, such as insufficient investment in geological exploration and extraction, diverse and lengthy national permitting procedures, or low public acceptance. Shortcomings in the EU's mining, processing, recycling, refining and unbundling capacity (e.g. in the case of lithium or rare earths) reflect a lack of resilience and high dependence on supplies from other parts of the world. At the same time, the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have an impact on the further direction of industrial policy with an effort to increase diversification and regionalization of production processes, resp. gaining economic sovereignty in strategic areas. Raw materials form the basis of the European economy in order to secure jobs and competitiveness and are essential for maintaining and improving our quality of life. Ensuring reliable, sustainable and unhindered access to and circulation of raw materials in the economy is therefore a growing concern within the EU, not only regionally but also globally. It is for these reasons that it is necessary to examine the consumption of materials in relation to the stage of development of countries.