ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a case study of one of the pioneers of ecobalancing: the textile producer Kunert. It also provides a short overview of ecobalancing and discusses the application of ecobalancing at Kunert. The principle of ecobalance analysis can be explained using the example of Kunert ag. The chapter describes the links between ecobalancing and cost management at Kunert. German firms were among the first to pioneer the ecobalance concept, with Kunert ag being the first company to make its ecobalance analysis publicly available. In Germany, companies are under strong societal as well as market-led pressure to assess, control and reduce their impact on the environment. Many German firms have responded to this challenge with a new managerial tool: ecobalance analysis. The actual process of performing an ecobalance analysis consists of the following steps: planning, data collection, data analysis, priority-setting and improvement goals, and reviewing.
