Materialinputs

Material inputs are the raw materials, substances, and energy sources required to produce goods and services. They include metals, plastics, chemicals, minerals, textiles, and fuels used in extraction, refining, and manufacturing, as well as processing additives and packaging. In many frameworks, material inputs refer to those that become part of the product or are dissipated during production, while labor, capital equipment, and services are treated separately.

Direct materials are components that are incorporated into the final product; indirect or auxiliary materials support production and maintenance, and packaging materials are often accounted for as material inputs. Some analyses also include energy as a material input, whereas others treat it as a separate category depending on methodological boundaries.

Material inputs are quantified in life cycle assessment and related methods through data on material flows, typically in mass units, sometimes alongside volume or energy content. A common related metric is material input per service unit (MIPS), which links resource use to the delivered service and informs resource efficiency and design choices.

Applications include product design for reduced material intensity, supply chain management, and policy analysis aimed at reducing environmental impacts and promoting recycling and circular economy strategies. Challenges include data availability and quality, allocation of shared materials among co-products, and accounting for end-of-life losses and recycling.

Understanding material inputs supports decisions toward sustainable production, resource conservation, and responsible material stewardship.