Overview
This report explores the material footprint for Northern Ireland, based on estimates produced by the University of Leeds (UoL). UoL also generate the material footprint estimates for the UK and England.
This report provides an overview of the total material footprint estimates between 2001 and 2022, including detailed breakdowns by material group and per capita estimates over time.
To derive Northern Ireland level estimates, UK-level material footprint data has been apportioned to final demand within Northern Ireland using statistics on household expenditure.
Key Points
Total Material Footprint
39,270
kilotonnes in 2022
Material Footprint
20.6
tonnes per capita in 2022
Non-Metallic Minerals
41%
of total footprint in 2022
Key points
Northern Ireland’s material footprint was estimated at 39,270 kilotonnes (kt) in 2022, which was an increase of 12.5% from the previous year (34,920kt in 2021).
In 2022, non-metallic minerals represented the largest portion of Northern Ireland’s material footprint, accounting for 41%. Biomass accounted for 28% and fossil fuels was 22%. Ore materials made up one-tenth of the total material footprint (10%) in 2022.
Material footprint was estimated at 20.6 tonnes per capita (tpc) in 2022, representing an increase from 18.3 tpc in 2021. This increase follows a recent low point of 16.2 tpc recorded in 2020, which coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Definition
Material footprint:
A
consumption-based measure of the domestic and global extraction of raw
materials needed to meet the final demands for goods and services. It
represents the total volume of materials embodied in the whole supply
chain to meet final demand. Material footprint is also known as raw
material consumption.
Material Footprint Analysis
Material footprint by material group
In 2022, Northern Ireland’s material footprint was estimated at 39,270 kilotonnes (kt), which was an increase of 12.5% from the previous year (34,920kt in 2021). There was an increase of 27.3% from a recent low of 30,836kt in 2020, a period that coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and possible changes in household consumption patterns.
The Northern Ireland material footprint peaked in 2005 (40,761kt) before falling to a series low in 2010 (30,094kt).
Figure 1 illustrates how the total material footprint and its composition by material type have changed over time. As shown in figure 1, total material footprint rose between 2001 and 2005, followed by a general downward trend until 2010. After 2010, material footprint has seen more fluctuation. After reaching a recent low point in 2020, material footprint rose again in both 2021 and 2022.
Figure 1 : Material footprint trends, total and by material group, Northern Ireland
Time series showing material footprint for 2001 to 2022 (kilotonnes).
Figure 1 shows that non-metallic minerals, including those used in construction, consistently represented the largest share of Northern Ireland’s material footprint, making up 41% in 2022 (16,126kt). The consumption of non-metallic minerals fluctuated more than other materials, and there has been an increasing trend since 2017. As non-metallic minerals dominate the overall material footprint, this trend closely mirrors the total material footprint pattern.
Biomass was the second highest material in demand over the period, where 10,838kt were used in 2022 (accounted for 28%). Consumption of biomass was less variable over this time period compared to non-metallic minerals.
Fossil fuels showed a general trend of decline from a series high in 2008, to a recent low in 2020 (5,346kt). However, there has been an increase to 8,519kt in 2022, where fossil fuels accounted for 22% of the total material footprint.
Ore materials has consistently comprised the smallest proportion of materials in the footprint, which accounted for 10% in 2022 (3,787kt). There has, however, been an increase in the proportion of ore materials in the total footprint, which accounted for around 6 to 7% of the footprint between 2002 and 2009.
Material footprint per capita
Presenting material footprint on a per capita basis provides an understanding of the environmental impact relative to the size of the population.
Figure 2: Material footprint per capita, Northern Ireland
Line chart showing tonnes per capita material footprint estimates for 2001 to 2022.
Figure 2 indicates that Northern Ireland’s material footprint per capita was estimated at 20.6 tonnes per capita (tpc) in 2022, representing an increase from 18.3 tpc in 2021.
This increase follows a recent low point of 16.2 tpc recorded in 2020, which coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
For comparison, UK material footprint per capita was estimated at 20.1 tpc in 2022, which was an increase from 17.5 tpc in 2021.
Further Information and Contact Details
Background information
The figures presented in this report have been produced by the University of Leeds (UoL). UoL, in agreement with Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), also currently produce estimates for Northern Ireland as part of creating official estimates of the UK and England’s carbon and material footprints.
To derive Northern Ireland level estimates, UK-level material footprint data has been apportioned to final demand within Northern Ireland using statistics on household expenditure.
This bulletin includes the first release of Northern Ireland’s headline material footprint estimates up to 2022, as supplied by DEFRA. 2022 is the most recent year that data is available for, which is in line with that produced for the Material Footprint in the UK and England’s Material Footprint.
This publication will aid reporting on the material footprint indicator included within the Decarbonisation priority of Department for the Economy’s Business Plan 2025-26.
Methodology and additional information
Readers are advised to access the 2025 Data Release of Consumption based Accounts for the UK: Summary of Methods document which was released in May 2025.
Section 4 of the 2025 Data Release provides an overview of the methodology for devolved regions and commentary on the accuracy of results. Readers are advised to refer to this document for additional information relating to the methodology and accuracy. A few points to note include:
- A hierarchical hybrid approach is used to estimate final consumption for each of the devolved regions. In summary, this estimates what proportion of total UK spend each devolved region is responsible for consuming, for each item in the database. An example provided was ‘if England spends 85% of the total UK spend on clothing, it receives 85% of the total UK footprint associated with clothing demand’;
- For domestic consumption of gas and electricity, ‘Regional and local authority consumption statistics’ produced by BEIS are used alongside separate data for Northern Ireland, where a shorter time series is available. Data is converted into proportions and trend projections are used to project data back to 2001 for all regions; and
- The Living Costs and Food Survey (LCFS), a survey of UK households on their weekly expenditure, is used to estimate household spend profiles for all other spends on goods and services. The LCFS collects information on Government Office Region for each surveyed household. Number of surveyed households in the 2022 LCFS: England – 4,261, Scotland – 815, Wales – 229, Northern Ireland – 327.
The methodology uses a Multi-Region Input-Output model and the series is revised annually. Availability of NI data depends on continued availability of the UoL estimates.
Excel/Open Data tables are available on the Material Footprint in NI 2001 to 2022 page.
Calculations and rounding
To derive per capita material footprint estimates, the NISRA 2024 Mid-Year Population estimates for Northern Ireland were used.
Percentage changes and tonnes per capita estimates are rounded to one decimal place. All other percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, using two significant figures; as a result, totals may not sum precisely to 100% due to rounding.
For conversion purposes, note that 1 kilotonne equals 0.001 million tonnes (Mt).
Contact Details
Lead statistician: Jennifer McLoughlin
Email: analyticalservices@economy-ni.gov.uk
This publication is produced by Analytical Services Division, Department for the Economy.