Publications

Here are previously published reports by Material Economics.
For our latest reports in Sustainability, visit McKinsey Insights

How a ‘materials transition’ can support the net-zero agenda

Material Economics

How a ‘materials transition’ can support the net-zero agenda

As the energy transition continues, advances toward low-emissions materials and the circular economy can also speed progress to net zero. Research on
A Good Disruption

Material Economics

A Good Disruption

Published in October 2016, A Good Disruption – Reinventing Growth in the Twenty-First Century explains how the massive technological disruption that
Framing stranded asset risks in an age of disruption

Material Economics

Framing stranded asset risks in an age of disruption

This study investigates which assets could become economically stranded as a result of the transition to a more sustainable economy and related
Ett värdebeständigt svenskt materialsystem

Material Economics

Ett värdebeständigt svenskt materialsystem

Om 100 kr råmaterial går in i den svenska ekonomin, hur många kronor återstår efter en användningscykel? Materialflöden och -återvinning har
Article on Sustainable Packaging - The Role of Materials Substitution

Material Economics

Article on Sustainable Packaging - The Role of Materials Substitution

This article summarises a study looking at the role of materials substitution in reducing lifecycle emissions from plastic packaging. The key
Completing the Picture - How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change

Material Economics

Completing the Picture - How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change

A step-change is needed to put the world on track to achieve zero emissions by 2050 to meet the 1.5˚C target set out in the Paris Agreement. To date,

Reference Projects

 

Growth Within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe

Growth Within: a circular economy vision for a competitive Europe

Per-Anders Enkvist was one of the lead authors of this report, published in 2015 by SUN (the environmental economics arm of the Deutsche Post
Greenhouse gas abatement cost curves

Greenhouse gas abatement cost curves

While at McKinsey, Per-Anders Enkvist invented McKinsey’s approach to greenhouse gas abatement cost curves, and led this work globally between 2007
A value perspective on the Swedish material system

A value perspective on the Swedish material system

In this groundbreaking research project, we are taking a value perspective on the Swedish material system. Both public statistics and academic
Re-shaping an industrial product portfolio to meet future customer sustainability expectations

Re-shaping an industrial product portfolio to meet future customer sustainability expectations

A leading industrial manufacturing company in the Nordics, noticing an increased focus on sustainability from their customers, asked us to support
Zero-emission urban mobility

Zero-emission urban mobility

Given the acceleration of zero-emission transportation technologies, we recently helped a public transport authority with a full electrification
Transforming real estate

Transforming real estate

A successful real estate firm recently asked us a profoundly important question: ‘What should an organization like ours actually do on sustainability?