Ressourcenintensive

Ressourcenintensiv (resource-intensive) is an adjective used to describe processes, products or activities that require large amounts of natural resources relative to the output or value created. In practice it denotes high consumption of energy, materials, water, land or other inputs, which can lead to environmental impacts and higher production costs.

The term is common in several contexts. In industry, sectors like steelmaking, cement production, and petrochemicals are often resource-intensive due to substantial energy and material demands. In information technology, data centers, high-performance computing, and large-scale AI model training are considered resource-intensive because of electricity use, cooling needs and hardware turnover. In agriculture, irrigation for water-intensive crops, and in mining, material throughput and land use contribute to resource intensity. The concept can apply to individual processes, entire production lines, companies, supply chains or economies.

Measurement and metrics vary but share the principle of inputs per unit of output. Common indicators include energy intensity (energy per unit of GDP or product), material intensity (materials per unit of output), water intensity, and land or ecological footprint. Life-cycle assessment and material flow analysis are often used to quantify resource intensity across products or services.

Implications and responses: High resource intensity is linked to environmental burdens, price volatility and risk in supply chains. Reducing it involves improving energy efficiency and process optimization, substituting scarce or harmful inputs, increasing recycling and circular economy practices, and extending product lifetimes. Policy tools include efficiency standards, eco-design and resource pricing. Challenges include measurement difficulties, rebound effects and potential trade-offs with performance or emissions in other areas.