Eco-efficiency has long been a concept: the intention of reducing environmental impact while increasing environmental value. Its origins are with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. However, in a globalized world with sustained economic growth environmental degradation is threatening. Macro level requirements on sustainability should be reflected in the eco-efficiency of choices at a micro level, like on technologies, supply chains and product systems. Eco-efficiency analysis has come to fruition as a fully quantified method for analysis, linking to specific domains of economic modelling, specific environmental models, and several methods for integrating these two domains into eco-efficiency scores. This eco-efficiency analysis can guide choices in policy, business, and - consumptions activities, all from a single common background. A central asset of eco-efficiency analysis is that it does not depend on a specific evaluation of environmental impacts against economic effects, avoiding the often disputed results of neo-classical evaluation methods. For integrating the different environmental scores several evaluation methods may be used - including those based on willingness-to-pay, panel procedures, and public statements on policy goals. Each may have advantages, but in line with the normative neutrality strived for in eco-efficiency, - these preference and value choices may be avoided to some extent. - This can be done either by taking a common denominator or by having less demanding objectives, - for instance - focusing on efficiency of measures only. A - substantial Japanese paper on Maximum Abatement Cost method and a paper - on revealed public preferences in the Netherlands comprise the first section on methods. Next, there are four sections on domains of application of eco-efficiency analysis. - In the - Agriculture section, a case on conservation agriculture in China is worked out, using input-output analysis. In the Ind
Author(s): Gjalt Huppes
Edition: 1
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 330
1402053983......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 8
Corresponding Authors......Page 10
1. An introduction to quantified eco-efficiency analysis......Page 12
General Methods......Page 50
2. Maximum abatement costs for calculating cost-effectiveness of green activities with multiple environmental effects......Page 51
3. From thermodynamic efficiency to eco-efficiency......Page 89
4. The price of toxicity. Methodology for the assessment of shadow prices for human toxicity, ecotoxicity and abiotic depletion......Page 114
Cases in Agriculture......Page 135
5. Conservation reconsidered: a modified input-output analysis of the economic impact of China's land conservation policy......Page 136
Cases in Industry......Page 168
6. Eco-efficiency in redesigned extended supply chains; furniture as an example......Page 169
7. Practical experiences with reducing industrial use of water and chemicals in the galvanising industry......Page 186
8. Cost-efficient solutions can speed up ecological (and social) development – A proposal......Page 216
Cases in Products and Consumption......Page 225
9. Environmental performance of households......Page 226
10. Eco-efficiency analysis of an electrochromic smart window prototype......Page 250
11. Upgrade planning for upgradeable product design......Page 263
Cases in Recycling......Page 284
12. A strategic policy model for promoting secondary materials use......Page 285
13. Eco-efficiency analysis of the plastic recovery systems in Hyogo eco-town project......Page 306
E......Page 327
W......Page 328
