Eco-efficiency

Eco-efficiency is the ratio of the economic value of a product and the pressure exerted on the environment by the production process impact, measured in an appropriate unit.

Eco-efficiency is different from the concept of eco-efficiency, which was coined by the German chemist Michael Braungart and American architect William McDonough, and is seen complementary to consistency and sufficiency.

The term was used by the Business Council for Sustainable Development ( Business Council for Sustainable Development, now the World Business Council for Sustainable Development - WBCSD) introduced in 1991 in the business world. The motivation for this was that adverse ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle ( the product) to be placed on a level that is compatible with the carrying capacity of the earth.

Eco-efficiency is achieved when goods and services are competitively priced, satisfy human needs and bring quality of life.

The Business Council for Sustainable Development defines eco-efficiency of the formula:

This concept calls for the maximization of the value ( utility) per unit " environmental impact ". In this case, both the production process and the use / benefits and the subsequent disposal included (for products ) in the balance sheet ( "cradle to grave" ). The reduction of material and energy intensity of products and the reduction of pollutant emissions should cause along with the increase of the recyclability of products, and the maximum use of recycled materials, a minimal environmental impact.

Eco-efficiency is a measure that should be addressed with the production processes and products more economically. The increase of the environmental impact is a positive side effect.

The reduction in the number of environmental burden to a scalar divisor requires the combination of different factors such as carbon dioxide emissions and emissions of heavy metals, which must necessarily be made ​​arbitrarily chosen as computational methods.

The eco-efficiency indicator does not provide information about the basic sustainability ( sustainability of the ecosystem ).