Definition: Substance flow analysis

Category: National accounts

An evaluation method and approach whereby the individual flows of environmentally undesirable substances through the environment and economy are evaluated systematically. Substance flow accounts primarily monitor the use and disposal of particularly undesirable and poisonous substances, for example over their entire life cycle, for some product or in some branch of industry. Substance flow accounts also serve as the basis for compiling Pressure Indicators and for analyses of particular products and branches of industry. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/KS-34-00-536-__-I-EN.pdf