Abstract
In order to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of resource efficiency and circular economy indicator systems, this paper presents a discussion on the development of material flow indicators and target setting in the EU and some European countries. Since 2005, the EU has continuously discussed resource efficiency and circular economy indicators along with its target setting in the thematic strategy for sustainable use of natural resources. In 2011, Europe put a focus on resource efficiency and even more recently, on circular economy policy packages. For the latest policy circular economy action plan, EC have proposed a monitoring framework for a circular economy that covers four areas : production and consumption ; waste management ; secondary raw materials ; competitiveness ; and innovation and economy (with 10 indicators). This framework explicitly shows the EU vision of circular economy in terms of indicators. The EU has also promoted an estimation of RMC and has started experimental estimation of cyclical use rates to promote this transition to a circular economy. While some European countries, like Germany and Austria, have set resource productivity targets, EU has still not reached a consensus on target setting for resource productivity.
