Eco-efficiency has long been a concept: the intention of reducing
environmental impact while increasing environmental value. Its origins
are with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
However, in a globalized world with sustained economic growth
environmental degradation is threatening. Macro level requirements on
sustainability should be reflected in the eco-efficiency of choices at a
micro level, like on technologies, supply chains and product systems.
Eco-efficiency analysis has come to fruition as a fully quantified
method for analysis, linking to specific domains of economic modelling,
specific environmental models, and several methods for integrating these
two domains into eco-efficiency scores. This eco-efficiency analysis can
guide choices in policy, business, and consumptions activities, all from
a single common background.
A central asset of eco-efficiency analysis is that it does not depend on
a specific evaluation of environmental impacts against economic effects,
avoiding the often disputed results of neo-classical evaluation methods.
For integrating the different environmental scores several evaluation
methods may be used including those based on willingness-to-pay, panel
procedures, and public statements on policy goals. Each may have
advantages, but in line with the normative neutrality strived for in
eco-efficiency, these preference and value choices may be avoided to
some extent. This can be done either by taking a common denominator or
by having less demanding objectives, for instance focusing on efficiency
of measures only.
A substantial Japanese paper on Maximum Abatement Cost method and a
paper on revealed public preferences in The Netherlands comprise the
first section on methods. Next, there are four sections on domains of
application of eco-efficiency analysis. In the Agriculture section, a
case on conservation agriculture in China is worked out, using
input-output analysis. In the Industry section, cases range from supply
chain management to waste water management and methods to speed up
innovation. In the Products & Consumption section, cases refer to
overall household performance, specific energy products and methods for
upgradeable product design. Finally, in the Recycling section, cases
relate to increasing the supply of secondary materials and to increasing
secondary materials use.
