Ecoefficiency

Session Coordinator: Matthias Finkbeiner

Speakers:
Bengt Steen – Chalmers University of Technology - presentation
Nana Takyi Wilberforce – Green Seal - presentation
Matthias Finkbeiner - Technical University Berlin - session introduction / presentation

The term eco-efficiency was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication "Changing Course". It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution. The 1992 Earth Summit endorsed eco-efficiency as a means for companies to implement Agenda 21 in the private sector, and the term has become synonymous with a management philosophy geared towards sustainability. This concept describes a vision for the production of economically valuable goods and services while reducing the ecological impacts of production. In other words eco-efficiency means producing more with less.

According to the WBCSD, critical aspects of eco-efficiency are:

• A reduction in the material intensity of goods or services;
• A reduction in the energy intensity of goods or services;
• Reduced dispersion of toxic materials;
• Improved recyclability;
• Maximum use of renewable resources;
• Greater durability of products;
• Increased service intensity of goods and services.

 

The reduction in ecological impacts translates into an increase in resource productivity, which in turn can create a competitive advantage. In a more theoretical sense eco-efficiency can be defined as the ratio between economic and environmental performance. Taking into account two of the three sustainability dimensions, eco-efficiency is also often seen as a step towards sustainable development.

Sustainability and ecoefficiency are nowadays accepted by all stakeholders as a guiding principle for both public policy making and corporate strategies. However, the biggest challenge for most organisations remains in the real and substantial implementation of these concepts. At the core of the implementation challenge is the question, how sustainability and ecoefficiency can be measured, especially for products and processes. As long as these questions are not answered, there will be no consistent development towards ecoefficiency and the use of the term remains arbitrary. Therefore, the particular issue which restrains the use of ecoefficiency is the lack of consistent, well accepted methodological frameworks and definitions. As a consequence eco-efficiency measures and achievements are difficult to communicate.

To address these issues ISO will establish an internationally standardized methodological framework for eco-efficiency assessment, which provides requirements, practical guidance and supports open, comprehensive and understandable presentation of eco-efficiency measures. The establishment and description of the principles and framework for producing eco efficiency measures, include

a) the goal and scope including system boundaries, interpretation and limitations,
b) environmental assessment,
c) economic assessment,
e) calculation of eco efficiency profile,
f) interpretation (including quality assurance),
g) reporting.

This special session on ecoefficiency will contain presentations to introduce the topic from three different angles followed by a panel discussion to interactively address general and especially contentious issues with regard to ecoefficiency.

Bengt Steen (Convenor for the new ISO TC207/SC5/WG7 in ISO on eco-efficiency assessment) will talk about "international standardisation of eco-efficency assessment - opportunities and controversial issues". Being the Chair of an ISO Task Force to prepare the standardization process, he can provide insights into the current status of the standardization process as well as some major discussion points.

Nana Takyi Wilberforce from Green Seal will focus on the communication aspect and present "eco-efficiency assessment from a labelling perspective". The role of communication tools and the prevention of misleading claims that damage the credibility of the ecoefficiency concept are of utmost importance.

Matthias Finkbeiner will raise some general, conceptual questions in his presentation "on the sustainability of eco-efficiency". Just adding an economic perspective to an environmental assessement (typically LCA) does not necessarily provide sustainable solutions. Some examples will be shown to highlight necessary boundary conditions to make ecoefficiency a meaningful approximation for sustainability.