Eco-efficiency

This rather old concept, nowadays absorbed by practically all programmes, describes a vision for producing economically valuable goods and services while reducing the ecological impact of their production. In other words, eco-efficiency means producing more goods and services with less input, using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution. Eco-efficiency is achieved through the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that not only satisfy human needs but bring quality of life while progressively reducing environmental impacts of goods and resource intensity throughout the entire life-cycle to a level at least in line with the Earth's estimated carrying capacity.

Eco-efficiency is part of a broader theoretical concept called 'sustainable production and consumption' (SPC), discussed especially at the international level by the Commission on Sustainable Development and UNEP (United Nations' Environment Programme). This concept involves changes in production and consumption patterns that lead to sustainable use of natural resources. Businesses play a key role, both as consumers of raw materials and as producers of goods and services. In order to bring this concept into real application, the implementation of a complex set of measures is required (environmental policy framework, resource pricing by internalising external costs, product-related standards, the dissemination of process standards, benchmarking or best practice through voluntary instruments, product and process related information through consumers policy etc.) that comprise the national, regional and local level as well as the co-operation of stakeholders from public and private sector, including consumers representatives.

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