The use of raw materials either efficiently or inefficiently has an impact on ongoing global sustainability. Total material flow per person has been estimated as 180 tonnes per year.  This figure is ever increasing and a continual drain on our natural resources.

The Raw Materials Leaf is the only quadrant which relates specifically to the individual product. The other three leaves refer to total company performance.

This leaf looks at how productively a manufacturer uses its raw materials. The less raw materials required to produce one unit of product, the more efficient the operation. Ways to decrease consumption of raw materials include light-weighting products (using less of a material, e.g. reducing the weight of plastic packaging), re-using or using recycled raw materials and ensuring the highest possible recyclable percentage of the final product.

The 8 questions completed by suppliers for each product can be viewed here. This section is also the only one whereby companies are rated against specific criteria and not a comparison over time.