This indicator shows domestic material consumption and direct material input, the structure of domestic material consumption and international comparison of material consumption per capita.

Domestic material consumption (DMC) is used to measure the total mass of all solid, liquid and gaseous materials (with the exception of water and air that are not directly contained in materials) obtained from natural resources (domestic natural resources + import and export) that enter production and consumption processes in a certain country within a year. Direct material flows are divided into six main groups: biomass (from agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and gathering), metallic and non-metallic mineral resources, fossil energy sources, waste and other.

Direct material input (DMI) is used to measure direct input of materials to be used in an economy, i.e. all materials that have economic value and are used in manufacturing activities and consumption; DMI includes materials obtained (and used) within a certain country and the total import of materials.