I suppose I wasn't clear. A drop in raw material consumption is not a bad thing, as long as it is accompanied by an increase in material efficiency to match it.

I suppose I wasn't clear. A drop in raw material consumption is not a bad thing, as long as it is accompanied by an increase in material efficiency to match it. For example, we may be buying less gas at the pumps, but that's just because our cars have improved. This did not effect our standard of living, because we still have the same individual mobility.