Eco-efficiency

Eco-efficiency helps wealthier countries to grow more qualitatively than quantitatively—providing more service, function, and value, not transforming more materials into energy and waste. Eco-efficiency also helps developing countries to continue to grow quantitatively while saving resources. Stepping up efforts in eco-efficiency will require a new contract among society, government, and business. The aim of eco-efficiency is to dematerialize. The continuing pressure of economic and population growth mean that some challenges—such as availability of clean water—become increasingly serious. That is all the more reason to focus on eco-efficiency as a journey rather than as a destination, a process rather than a panacea. Eco-efficiency is also criticized for not achieving all the goals of sustainable development, as it lacks stated limits and a social side. In addition to a move from selling services rather than selling products, other areas provide opportunities for achieving eco-efficiency. Eco-efficiency solutions must be adapted to local conditions, both culturally and economically.