In the past 50 years, humans have consumed more resources than
in all previous history. U.S. EPA, 2009. Sustainable Materials
Management: The Road Ahead. The way we produce, consume and
dispose of our products and our food accounts for 42% of U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. EPA, 2009. Opportunities to
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Materials and Land
Management Practices. Between 1950 and 2005, worldwide metals
production grew sixfold, oil consumption eightfold, and natural
gas consumption 14-fold. In total, 60 billion tons of resources
are now extracted annually—about 50% more than just 30 years
ago. Today the average European uses 43 kilograms of resources
daily, and the average American uses 88 kilograms. Worldwatch
Institute, 2010. State of the World 2010. Between 1970 and 1995,
the U.S. represented about one-third of the world’s total
material consumption. With less than 5% of the world’s
population, the U.S. consumes 33% of paper, 25% of oil, 15% of
coal, 17% of aluminum, and 15% of copper.