Circularity indicator set

To understand Oman’s role in the global economy, the previous analysis quantified its material and carbon footprints by accounting for the full spectrum of materials flowing in and out of the country. Yet volume alone does not tell the whole story. This section takes a deeper look at how materials are used within Oman’s economy through our Circularity Indicator Set (CIS), which categorises all material inputs as Circular (such as secondary materials and potentially circular biomass), Linear (including fossil fuels and non-recycled materials), or Stock build-up (buildings and infrastructure that lock materials away for years).

While the classification is not as simple as positive versus negative, in general, Circular indicators represent positive contributions to the economy, such as the use of secondary materials and carbon-neutral biomass. Linear indicators typically reflect materials that are not reused, cannot be reused, or are inherently associated with negative environmental impacts. Stock Build-up can have either positive or negative implications, depending on the types of materials accumulated and how they are managed or recovered in the future.

This approach helps answer key questions: How much material is added to Oman’s stock each year? How much biomass is being consumed? What share of total material inputs are circular versus linear? By tracking these flows, local stakeholders can monitor circular performance over time, set meaningful targets, and steer decision-making towards a more resource-efficient and resilient economy.

At just 2% (around three million tonnes), Oman’s Technical Cycling Rate—calculated against a domestic material consumption of 148 million tonnes—is well below the global average of 6.9%