The　production,　consumption　and　recycling　of　non-ferrous　metals　are　a　complicated　nonlinear　system.　It　is　difficult　to　predict　their　related　resources　consumption　and　environmental　impacts.　In　recent　years,　material　flow　analysis　(MFA)　and　life　cycle　assessment　(LCA)　have　been　developed　and　applied　in　the　non-ferrous　metals　industry　for　circular　economy　and　sustainable　development.　These　two　quantitative　decision　analysis　tools　can　provide　not　only　feasible　suggestions　and　measures　for　technology　upgrades　and　renovation　of　enterprises,　but　also　evaluation　basis　for　non-ferrous　metals　industry　to　achieve　the　goal　of　energy　saving　and　emissions　reduction.　The　main　ideas,　theoretical　basis,　research　ideas　and　frameworks　of　MFA　and　process-oriented　LCA　are　elaborated　in　this　paper.　The　application　of　these　methods　in　typical　non-ferrous　metals　production,　such　as　aluminum,　magnesium,　copper,　lead　and　zinc,　is　summarized　and　analyzed.　Further　researches　of　energy　saving　and　emissions　reduction　in　the　non-ferrous　metals　industry　are　discussed　and　prospected.　©　2016,　The　Editorial　Board　of　Materials　China.　All　right　reserved.