The dominant economic model of Norway is linear. This linear system is characterised by a ‘take-make-waste’ process powered by fossil fuels. There is a need for a baseline for the Norwegian economy that provides a clear starting point to identify where different sectors and supply chains should focus their strategies going forward. 

This report presents the material footprint behind Norway meeting seven key societal needs. It explores what resources are used for purposes such as housing, mobility and nutrition. The study illustrates how raw materials are processed and assembled to become the products that address the country’s needs. Visualising what happens at end-of-use sheds light on the accumulation of materials in products, goods and the built environment around us. Furthermore, it reveals the extent to which Norway currently achieves cycling of resources back into the economy.

To drive our robust and data-driven decision making, we draw from and combine two complementary methods from the field of industrial ecology: the Economy-Wide Material Flow Accounting (EW-MFA) and Input- Output Analysis (IOA).

We explore six ‘what-if’ scenarios which can partially transform the economy to rely less on linear processes: (1) Circular construction, (2) Total transition to clean energy, (3) Circular food systems, (4) Green transport system, (5) A strong repair, reuse & recycling economy and (6) Circular forestry and wood products. Each scenario boosts circularity and reduces consumption in Norway, but when combined, these six scenarios bolster the Circularity Metric from 2.4% to an impressive 45.8% and reduce consumption, the material footprint, by over half, 64.8%. They also slash the country’s carbon footprint—carbon emissions from consumption in Norway—by a huge 63%.

Based on empirical research—qualitative interviews—and secondary research, this report identifies how changemakers—businesses and government—can drive the adoption of a circular economy. Further, the report outlines the vital importance of the labour market in fully realising a circular economy.