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Michael Lettenmeier
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

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Journal article
Published: 01 April 2018 in Ecological Economics
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ACS Style

Jens Teubler; Johannes Buhl; Michael Lettenmeier; Kathrin Greiff; Christa Liedtke. A Household's Burden – The Embodied Resource Use of Household Equipment in Germany. Ecological Economics 2018, 146, 96 -105.

AMA Style

Jens Teubler, Johannes Buhl, Michael Lettenmeier, Kathrin Greiff, Christa Liedtke. A Household's Burden – The Embodied Resource Use of Household Equipment in Germany. Ecological Economics. 2018; 146 ():96-105.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jens Teubler; Johannes Buhl; Michael Lettenmeier; Kathrin Greiff; Christa Liedtke. 2018. "A Household's Burden – The Embodied Resource Use of Household Equipment in Germany." Ecological Economics 146, no. : 96-105.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2016 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Senja Laakso; Michael Lettenmeier. Household-level transition methodology towards sustainable material footprints. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 132, 184 -191.

AMA Style

Senja Laakso, Michael Lettenmeier. Household-level transition methodology towards sustainable material footprints. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2016; 132 ():184-191.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Senja Laakso; Michael Lettenmeier. 2016. "Household-level transition methodology towards sustainable material footprints." Journal of Cleaner Production 132, no. : 184-191.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2016 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Melanie Lukas; Holger Rohn; Michael Lettenmeier; Christa Liedtke; Klaus Wiesen. The nutritional footprint – integrated methodology using environmental and health indicators to indicate potential for absolute reduction of natural resource use in the field of food and nutrition. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 132, 161 -170.

AMA Style

Melanie Lukas, Holger Rohn, Michael Lettenmeier, Christa Liedtke, Klaus Wiesen. The nutritional footprint – integrated methodology using environmental and health indicators to indicate potential for absolute reduction of natural resource use in the field of food and nutrition. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2016; 132 ():161-170.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Melanie Lukas; Holger Rohn; Michael Lettenmeier; Christa Liedtke; Klaus Wiesen. 2016. "The nutritional footprint – integrated methodology using environmental and health indicators to indicate potential for absolute reduction of natural resource use in the field of food and nutrition." Journal of Cleaner Production 132, no. : 161-170.

Journal article
Published: 28 August 2014 in Resources
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The concept Material Input per Service Unit (MIPS) was developed 20 years ago as a measure for the overall natural resource use of products and services. The material intensity analysis is used to calculate the material footprint of any economic activities in production and consumption. Environmental assessment has developed extensive databases for life cycle inventories, which can additionally be adopted for material intensity analysis. Based on practical experience in measuring material footprints on the micro level, this paper presents the current state of research and methodology development: it shows the international discussions on the importance of accounting methodologies to measure progress in resource efficiency. The MIPS approach is presented and its micro level application for assessing value chains, supporting business management, and operationalizing sustainability strategies is discussed. Linkages to output-oriented Life Cycle Assessment as well as to Material Flow Analysis (MFA) at the macro level are pointed out. Finally we come to the conclusion that the MIPS approach provides relevant knowledge on resource and energy input at the micro level for fact-based decision-making in science, policy, business, and consumption.

ACS Style

Christa Liedtke; Katrin Bienge; Klaus Wiesen; Jens Teubler; Kathrin Greiff; Michael Lettenmeier; Holger Rohn. Resource Use in the Production and Consumption System—The MIPS Approach. Resources 2014, 3, 544 -574.

AMA Style

Christa Liedtke, Katrin Bienge, Klaus Wiesen, Jens Teubler, Kathrin Greiff, Michael Lettenmeier, Holger Rohn. Resource Use in the Production and Consumption System—The MIPS Approach. Resources. 2014; 3 (3):544-574.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christa Liedtke; Katrin Bienge; Klaus Wiesen; Jens Teubler; Kathrin Greiff; Michael Lettenmeier; Holger Rohn. 2014. "Resource Use in the Production and Consumption System—The MIPS Approach." Resources 3, no. 3: 544-574.

Journal article
Published: 09 July 2014 in Resources
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The paper suggests a sustainable material footprint of eight tons, per person, in a year as a resource cap target for household consumption in Finland. This means an 80% (factor 5) reduction from the present Finnish average. The material footprint is used as a synonym to the Total Material Requirement (TMR) calculated for products and activities. The paper suggests how to allocate the sustainable material footprint to different consumption components on the basis of earlier household studies, as well as other studies, on the material intensity of products, services, and infrastructures. It analyzes requirements, opportunities, and challenges for future developments in technology and lifestyle, also taking into account that future lifestyles are supposed to show a high degree of diversity. The targets and approaches are discussed for the consumption components of nutrition, housing, household goods, mobility, leisure activities, and other purposes. The paper states that a sustainable level of natural resource use by households is achievable and it can be roughly allocated to different consumption components in order to illustrate the need for a change in lifestyles. While the absolute material footprint of all the consumption components will have to decrease, the relative share of nutrition, the most basic human need, in the total material footprint is expected to rise, whereas much smaller shares than at present are proposed for housing and especially mobility. For reducing material resource use to the sustainable level suggested, both social innovations, and technological developments are required.

ACS Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Christa Liedtke; Holger Rohn. Eight Tons of Material Footprint—Suggestion for a Resource Cap for Household Consumption in Finland. Resources 2014, 3, 488 -515.

AMA Style

Michael Lettenmeier, Christa Liedtke, Holger Rohn. Eight Tons of Material Footprint—Suggestion for a Resource Cap for Household Consumption in Finland. Resources. 2014; 3 (3):488-515.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Christa Liedtke; Holger Rohn. 2014. "Eight Tons of Material Footprint—Suggestion for a Resource Cap for Household Consumption in Finland." Resources 3, no. 3: 488-515.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2014 in Science of The Total Environment
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Holger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. Publisher note to “Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies” [Science of the Total Environment 473–474 (2014) 32–35]. Science of The Total Environment 2014, 481, 644 .

AMA Style

Holger Rohn, Nico Pastewski, Michael Lettenmeier, Klaus Wiesen, Katrin Bienge. Publisher note to “Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies” [Science of the Total Environment 473–474 (2014) 32–35]. Science of The Total Environment. 2014; 481 ():644.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Holger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. 2014. "Publisher note to “Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies” [Science of the Total Environment 473–474 (2014) 32–35]." Science of The Total Environment 481, no. : 644.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2014 in Science of The Total Environment
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A decent, or sufficient, lifestyle is largely considered an important objective in terms of a sustainable future. However, there can be strongly varying definitions of what a decent lifestyle means. From a social sustainability point of view, a decent lifestyle can be defined as the minimum level of consumption ensuring an acceptable quality of life. From an ecological sustainability point of view, a decent lifestyle can be defined as a lifestyle that does not exceed the carrying capacity of nature in terms of natural resource use. The paper presents results of a study on the natural resource use of 18 single households belonging to the lowest income decile in Finland. The yearly "material footprint" of each household was calculated on the basis of the data gathered in a questionnaire and two interviews. The results show that the natural resource use of the participating households was lower than the one of the average consumer. Furthermore, 12 of 18 households had a smaller material footprint than the "decent minimum" reference budget defined by a consumer panel. However, the resource use of all the households and lifestyles studied is still higher than long-term ecological sustainability would require. The paper concludes that the material footprint is a suitable approach for defining and measuring a decent lifestyle and provides valuable information on how to dematerialize societies towards sustainability.

ACS Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Satu Lähteenoja; Tuuli Hirvilammi; Senja Susanna Laakso. Resource use of low-income households — Approach for defining a decent lifestyle? Science of The Total Environment 2014, 481, 681 -684.

AMA Style

Michael Lettenmeier, Satu Lähteenoja, Tuuli Hirvilammi, Senja Susanna Laakso. Resource use of low-income households — Approach for defining a decent lifestyle? Science of The Total Environment. 2014; 481 ():681-684.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Satu Lähteenoja; Tuuli Hirvilammi; Senja Susanna Laakso. 2014. "Resource use of low-income households — Approach for defining a decent lifestyle?" Science of The Total Environment 481, no. : 681-684.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2014 in Science of The Total Environment
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Despite rising prices for natural resources during the past 30 years, global consumption of natural resources is still growing. This leads to ecological, economical and social problems. So far, however, limited effort has been made to decrease the natural resource use of goods and services. While resource efficiency is already on the political agenda (EU and national resource strategies), there are still substantial knowledge gaps on the effectiveness of resource efficiency improvement strategies in different fields. In this context and within the project "Material Efficiency and Resource Conservation", the natural resource use of 22 technologies, products and strategies was calculated and their resource efficiency potential analysed. In a preliminary literature- and expert-based identification process, over 250 technologies, strategies, and products, which are regarded as resource efficient, were identified. Out of these, 22 subjects with high resource efficiency potential were selected. They cover a wide range of relevant technologies, products and strategies, such as energy supply and storage, Green IT, transportation, foodstuffs, agricultural engineering, design strategies, lightweight construction, as well as the concept "Using Instead of Owning". To assess the life-cycle-wide resource use of the selected subjects, the material footprint has been applied as a reliable indicator. In addition, sustainability criteria on a qualitative basis were considered. The results presented in this paper show significant resource efficiency potential for many technologies, products and strategies.

ACS Style

Holger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies. Science of The Total Environment 2014, 473-474, 32 -35.

AMA Style

Holger Rohn, Nico Pastewski, Michael Lettenmeier, Klaus Wiesen, Katrin Bienge. Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies. Science of The Total Environment. 2014; 473-474 ():32-35.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Holger Rohn; Nico Pastewski; Michael Lettenmeier; Klaus Wiesen; Katrin Bienge. 2014. "Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies." Science of The Total Environment 473-474, no. : 32-35.

Journal article
Published: 29 June 2012 in Sustainability
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The article assesses the material footprints of households living on a minimum amount of social benefits in Finland and discusses the consequences in terms of ecological and social sustainability. The data were collected using interviews and a questionnaire on the consumption patterns of 18 single households. The results are compared to a study on households with varying income levels, to average consumption patterns and to decent minimum reference budgets. The low-income households have lower material footprints than average and most of the material footprints are below the socially sustainable level of consumption, which is based on decent minimum reference budgets. However, the amount of resources used by most of the households studied here is still at least double that required for ecological sustainability. The simultaneous existence of both deprivation and overconsumption requires measures from both politicians and companies to make consumption sustainable. For example, both adequate housing and economic mobility need to be addressed. Measures to improve the social sustainability of low-income households should target reducing the material footprints of more affluent households. Furthermore, the concept of what constitutes a decent life should be understood more universally than on the basis of standards of material consumption.

ACS Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Tuuli Hirvilammi; Senja Laakso; Satu Lähteenoja; Kristiina Aalto. Material Footprint of Low-Income Households in Finland—Consequences for the Sustainability Debate. Sustainability 2012, 4, 1426 -1447.

AMA Style

Michael Lettenmeier, Tuuli Hirvilammi, Senja Laakso, Satu Lähteenoja, Kristiina Aalto. Material Footprint of Low-Income Households in Finland—Consequences for the Sustainability Debate. Sustainability. 2012; 4 (7):1426-1447.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Tuuli Hirvilammi; Senja Laakso; Satu Lähteenoja; Kristiina Aalto. 2012. "Material Footprint of Low-Income Households in Finland—Consequences for the Sustainability Debate." Sustainability 4, no. 7: 1426-1447.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2012 in Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
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Lucia Mancini; Michael Lettenmeier; Holger Rohn; Christa Liedtke. Application of the MIPS method for assessing the sustainability of production–consumption systems of food. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 2012, 81, 779 -793.

AMA Style

Lucia Mancini, Michael Lettenmeier, Holger Rohn, Christa Liedtke. Application of the MIPS method for assessing the sustainability of production–consumption systems of food. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. 2012; 81 (3):779-793.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lucia Mancini; Michael Lettenmeier; Holger Rohn; Christa Liedtke. 2012. "Application of the MIPS method for assessing the sustainability of production–consumption systems of food." Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 81, no. 3: 779-793.

Conference paper
Published: 02 November 2011 in Proceedings of The 1st World Sustainability Forum
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A decent, or sufficient, lifestyle is largely considered an important objective in terms of a sustainable future. From an ecological sustainability point of view, a the natural resource consumption of a decent lifestyle should not exceed the long-term carrying capacity of nature. The material footprint based on the MIPS concept (material input per unit of service) can be used as an indicator of the natural resource consumption of lifestyles. Thus, it can provide a rough indication of the long-term ecological sustainability of lifestyles when compared to the level of natural resource consumption that is estimated sustainable. Previous research shows that low-income households consume a relatively small amount of resources. Thus the material footprint of their consumption is assumed to be closer to the ecologically sustainable level of resource use than the consumption of an average household. In order to show the amount of natural resources a minimum consumption level requires, this paper presents the material footprint of households living on a minimum level of social benefits in the Finnish welfare state. The data was collected in a questionnaire on the consumption habits and lifestyles of 18 single households belonging to the lowest income decile in Finland. The results are compared to the results of a previous study on the material footprints of households with varying income levels as well as of an average Finn. In addition, the results are compared to the material footprint of decent minimum reference budgets defined consensually by the Finnish National Consumer Research Centre in a cooperation of experts and a consumer panel. The results show that the low-income households have a lower material footprint than average. Thus, a decrease in material footprint by a factor of 2 - 4 from present average can already be achieved. However, the resource consumption of all the households studied is still higher, in most cases by a factor of 2 and more, than long-term ecological sustainability would require although it is in most cases lower than the material footprint of the social and economic minimum defined for a decent life. The paper discusses this discrepancy and presents conclusions in order to make future lifestyles more sustainable. The central conclusion is that ecologically sustainable consumption cannot be achieved solely by households\' efforts but there is a great need for innovations in technology, business and politics.

ACS Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Kristiina Aalto; Senja Laakso; Tuuli Hirvilammi; Satu Lähteenoja. Material Footprint of Low-income Households in Finland – is it Sustainable? Proceedings of The 1st World Sustainability Forum 2011, 1 .

AMA Style

Michael Lettenmeier, Kristiina Aalto, Senja Laakso, Tuuli Hirvilammi, Satu Lähteenoja. Material Footprint of Low-income Households in Finland – is it Sustainable? Proceedings of The 1st World Sustainability Forum. 2011; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Lettenmeier; Kristiina Aalto; Senja Laakso; Tuuli Hirvilammi; Satu Lähteenoja. 2011. "Material Footprint of Low-income Households in Finland – is it Sustainable?" Proceedings of The 1st World Sustainability Forum , no. : 1.