Eco-efficiency is a management philosophy that links financial and environmental performance to create more value with less ecological impact. It focuses on business opportunities and allows companies to become more environmentally responsible and more profitable. Originally developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) it is a key business contribution to sustainable societies.

Eco-efficiency enables more efficient production processes, creating better products and services while reducing resource use, waste and pollution along the entire value chain. In essence it is about creating more value with less impact. Not only can eco-efficiency save production costs but it can also create new sources of revenue for companies. Climate Change Response’s eco-efficiency and sustainable production services have a specific focus on the optimisation and innovation of industrial and commercial processes, products, and services.

Eco-efficiency and Cleaner Production

Cleaner production and eco-efficiency are key overarching and related approaches to assist businesses with improving the way they produce and consume resources. Cleaner production and eco-efficiency enable more efficient production processes and create better products and services while reducing resource use, wastes, and pollution. Climate Change Response provides eco-efficiency and cleaner production assessments that assist businesses to improve their operations and create more value with less impact.

Industrial Ecology and Symbiosis

While the main focus of cleaner production and eco-efficiency is at the individual plant level, industrial ecology analyses industrial operations in relationship to their surrounding industrial and natural systems. It employs a holistic view to assess and improve the utilisation of natural resources including water, energy and raw materials. Climate Change Response’s industrial ecology and symbiosis services include:

• Identification, assessment, facilitation, and implementation of regional synergies between industries. These synergies often relate to by-products, utilities, services and supply chains.
• Enhancing the sustainable design and resource efficiency of companies in an industrial estate.
• Design and planning of eco-industrial or sustainability parks.

Design for the Environment, Lifecycle Assessment and Supply Chain Management

Producing a system-wide view of a product or service allows a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to help optimise the eco-efficiency of an entire product system as opposed to just a particular facility or process. Eco-innovation and Design for the Environment (DfE) help organisations integrate eco-efficiency where it is most needed at the conceptual planning and design stage. Environmental Supply Chain Management (ESCM) can help organisations identify eco-efficiency opportunities in their supply chain. Climate Change Response offers the following related services:

• Eco-innovation and Design for the Environment to help organisations integrate sustainable production practices where it is most needed at the conceptual planning and design stage.
• Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and management of products, technologies, processes and services to determine their environmental performance from cradle to grave.
• Supply chain management including extended user responsibility and end-of-life product management to help organisations identify and manage sustainability opportunities through their supply chain.