This report is part of the OECD programme on material flows and resource productivity that supports the implementation of the OECD Council recommendation on MF and RP adopted in April 2004. It is the first volume of a series of guidance documents on Measuring material flows and resource productivity that have been drafted in a joint effort by a group of experts from OECD countries led by the OECD Secretariat1. It benefited from contributions by members of the OECD Working Group on Environmental Information and Outlooks and the Working Group on Waste Prevention and Recycling, the Eurostat Task Force on Material Flows, and the London Group on Environmental Accounting. In developing this report, the co-operation of environmental administrations, statistical services and material flow experts in countries has been invaluable. Our sincere thanks are therefore extended to all concerned. The work has benefited from a sequence of workshops hosted by member countries (Helsinki, June 2004; Berlin, May 2005; Rome, May 2006; Tokyo, September 2007), that brought together environmental administrations, statistical services, material flow experts and researchers.

The guidance documents provide guidance on methodological and measurement issues related to material flow analysis (MFA), including the development of material flow accounts and related indicators. Emphasis is put on tools that can be used by country governments to support the development and implementation of national policies and related international work.
The main objectives are to:
•Provide an accessible guide to the measurement of material flows (MF) and resource productivity (RP) for those involved in constructing and interpreting such measures, including national statistical offices, relevant government agencies, policy analysts and researchers; and facilitate the dissemination and uptake of existing experience and guidance.
•Identify desirable characteristics of MF and RP measures in accordance with policy questions and uses, and by reference to a coherent framework that links the concepts of system analysis and integrated environmental economic accounting.
•Improve international harmonisation and convergence: although the documents are not prescriptive, they point out those areas in which harmonisation of methods is recommended so that results are coherent and can be used in international work. Some diversity in their implementation is expected, for example in the coverage of natural resources or materials that necessarily reflects the varying economic and environmental importance of a given resource or material flow for different countries.
The guidance documents reflect the state of the art concerning experience with material flow analysis and related indicators in member countries. It is expected that they will evolve as ongoing efforts on methodologies and measurement systems will show results and as more feedback will become available on the policy uses of MF information and indicators