Case study: Understanding the

environmental impact
North East Regional of economic growth and
Information Partnership consumer spending

This study has provided the North East Regional

Information Partnership (NERIP) with detailed
projections of changes in the distribution and
consumption of different groups in the North East, linked
to greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions. Experian’s unique,
quantitative approach provides the basis for policy that
helps economic growth while respecting environmental
targets.

Challenge Understanding the connection

There is much debate on the impact
of consumption on the environment,
in particular how economic growth
directly relates to consumption.
NERIP, which provides a range of
data to decision makers in the North
East of England, sought to develop a
quantitative understanding of probable
changes in consumption patterns,
along with the environmental impacts
that are likely to arise as economic
performance in the region improves.
“The Experian/SEI team delivered a unique and
innovative study that will help target efforts to
reduce carbon emissions across the North East.
The combination of the necessary expertise and
a good and professional relationship resulted in a
piece of research that is as good as the best.”
David Mell
Modelling Manager
NERIP
between economic growth,
consumption and environmental
impacts is crucial to promoting
sustainable economic growth.
Solution
In order to answer the question
‘if the region was successful in
meeting its economic objectives what
environmental impacts would this
have?’, Experian partnered with the
Stockholm Environment Institute
(SEI), developing an approach which
estimated greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions for 61 national-level Mosaic
household segments1. Our solution
set out three economic scenarios,
quantifying the relationship between
economic growth, population change,
changes in consumption and the
resulting environmental impacts.
Use of Mosaic enabled NERIP to
evaluate the environmental impact
of different household groups and
will enable regional institutions to
formulate targeted policy that focuses
on those household types which
are most likely to have the greatest
negative environmental impact as the
regional economy grows.
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www.experian.co.uk/publicsector

40 Implementation Results
The project was anchored in economic At an overall level, the study
35
Pounds spent per hh

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growth projections for the North East indicated that whilst the region is
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(£000s)

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over a twenty year period, charting likely to see relative decoupling2

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Food & non-aloholic drinks
Household goods & services
Alocholic drink & tobacco
Recreation & culture
Restaurants & hotels
Housing, fuel & pow er
miscellaneous goods & services and the subsequent impact on the unlikely without strong policy
consumption mix by the Mosaic intervention.
Communication Clothing & footw ear
Education and Health

household types was estimated for

the North East and its constituent The study pointed towards large
districts. differences in emissions across
Greenhouse gas emissions per pound spent over time for selected food product
groups 1992 - 2026
households and lifestyles and
12
M eat and meat products excl. poultry (domestic)
M eat and meat products excl. poultry (imports)
Using the SEI data and forecasts clearly related these to incomes and
10
Dairy products (domestic)
Dairy products (imports)
Fruit and vegetables (Domestic)
for the carbon intensity per pound expenditure. By bringing economic
spent on each consumption product, and environmental information
Fruit and vegetables (imports)
Bread and biscuits; pastry goods and cakes (domestic)
8 Bread and biscuits; pastry goods and cakes (imports)

the team was able to calculate the together, regional policy can recognise
kg GHG per £ spent

full impact of changed consumption differences between neighbourhoods,

6

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patterns in the region on the and take into account household types
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environment, brought about by faster and unique consumption patterns.
0 economic growth.The research was
designed to overcome territorial Experian was able to provide robust
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boundaries and properly accounted underlying economic analysis which is

for the impact of products that were disaggregated by different household
produced in other countries and types, helping policymakers in the
regions, but consumed within the North East to formulate more effective
45

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35
North East. At the same time, the policy that targets specific groups and
GHG (tonnes per hh)

analysis excluded the impacts of allowing the ‘worst offenders’ to be

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goods and services produced in the targeted first.
North East but exported outside the
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region. 2. Relative decoupling means that emissions grow more
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slowly than the economy.
Absolute decoupling means that the economy grows but
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Transport Recreation & culture Housing, fuel & pow er detailed understanding of UK society.
Food & non-aloholic drinks Restaurants & hotels miscellaneous goods & services
Household goods & services Communication Clothing & footw ear
Alocholic drink & tobacco Education and Health

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