ABSTRACT
What is eco-efficiency? Eco-efficiency combines environmental and economic performance to create more value with less impact. At the micro level, eco-efficiency is mainly a business concept. At the macro policy level, it can describe important elements of the move toward sustainable development. The European Partners for the Environment (a group of both businesses and non-governmental organisations) say that, in order to become eco-efficient, companies need to:
Reduce the material intensity of their goods and services
Reduce the energy intensity
Reduce the dispersion of toxic substances
Enhance material recyclability
Maximise the sustainable use of renewable resources
Extend material durability
Increase the service intensity of their goods and services
In addition, businesses must also use creativity to deploy new technologies, initiate improvements along the supply chain, and bring new products and services to market.