New review on the state of quantifying material stocks in long-lived products

Over half of global resource extraction each year is used to build and maintain long-lived material stocks such as buildings and infrastructure. Understanding these stocks is therefore crucial to develop effective strategies for sustainable resource use. In our new study, we reviewed 32 recent publications and found substantial discrepancies between estimates of the same material stocks across global, national, and urban scales. These variations arise from differences in methodologies, data quality, system boundaries, and definitions. To strengthen the scientific foundation for policy and planning, we call for transparent reporting, uncertainty assessments, further data collection, and greater collaboration through open-access tools and standardized approaches.

Streeck, J., Baumgart, A., Haberl, H., Krausmann, F., Cai, B., Fishman, T., Lanau, M., Berrill, P., Cao, Z., Deetman, S., Frantz, D., Krey, V., Mastrucci, A., Miatto, A., Pauliuk, S., Rousseau, L.S.A., Saxe, S., Densley Tingley, D., Ünlü, G., Wiedenhofer, D., 2025. Quantifying material stocks in long-lived products: Challenges and improvements for informing sustainable resource use strategies. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 221, 108324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108324

Contact: 

Dr. Jan Streeck, MSc
Institut für Soziale Ökologie
jan.streeck(at)boku.ac.at