Resource intensity of the digital transformation in Germany

Katharina Milde; Mark Meyer; Roman Kirchdorfer; Daniel Haack

doi:10.14512/tatup.7137

Authors

Katharina Milde Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems, Sankt Augustin (DE) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8140-0617 katharina.milde@iais.fraunhofer.de
Mark Meyer The Institute of Economic Structures Research, Osnabrück (DE) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7637-2925 m.meyer@gws-os.com
Roman Kirchdorfer Ramboll Management Consulting GmbH, Hamburg (DE) https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3669-6015 roman.kirchdorfer@gmx.de
Daniel Haack German Institute for Standardization e.V., Berlin (DE) https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3552-3977 daniel.haack@din.de

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14512/tatup.7137

Keywords:

resource policy, digitalization, life cycle assessment, EEIO case studies and applications, ecological footprints

Abstract

The project “Digitalisation and natural resources” (DigitalRessourcen) analyzed the resource intensity of digitalization in Germany. Various micro- and macro-level analyses were conducted and areas for shaping sustainable digitalization were identified. At the micro-level, the resource requirements and environmental impacts of digital products and services were calculated on the basis of case studies using life cycle assessment principles. At the macro-level, input-output models were applied to determine the need for raw materials and the CO₂ emissions of the digitalization in Germany for the national economy. The micro-level analyses confirmed the expected correlation between raw material use, energy use, and global warming potential. The main causes here were identified in the manufacturing and use phases. Macro-level analyses revealed that, besides domestic demand dependencies, the close links between the German economy and international trade could be an obstacle to reducing the raw material and CO₂ intensity of digitalization.

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