Eco-efficiency
By Emma Ringström & Johan Widheden
In this Getting Started Guide we will introduce the concept of Eco-efficiency and the methodology of Eco-efficiency assessment and guide you to different uses of it.
What is Eco-efficiency?
Eco-efficiency is a management philosophy which encourages business to search for environmental improvements that yield parallel economic benefits. The objective is to become more efficient by creating more value while reducing material and energy consumption and thereby reduce the overall emissions. Eco-efficiency is not limited simply to making incremental efficiency improvements in existing practices and habits. Eco-efficiency should stimulate creativity and innovation in the search for new ways of doing things. Eco-efficiency is also not only limited to areas within a company’s boundaries, it is valid for activities upstream and downstream of a manufacturer’s plant and involves the supply and product value-chains.
The term was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in the report Changing Course. Innovation and competitiveness within business combined with taking greater responsibility for the environment was the main driver and idea behind the philosophy.
