Eco Efficiency And Beyond

Author : Jan-Dirk Seiler-Hausmann,Christa Liedtke,Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 151 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2017-09-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781351281553

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Eco-efficiency and Beyond by Jan-Dirk Seiler-Hausmann,Christa Liedtke,Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker Pdf

Business-as-usual, it is widely accepted, will exceed the Earth's carrying capacity in an alarmingly short space of time. In simple terms, we need to learn to use the world's rapidly depleting resources in a significantly more efficient manner. Practical and readily adopted solutions are needed now. Eco-efficiency-or "produce more with less" – is achieved when goods and services satisfy human needs, increase the quality of life at competitive prices and when environmental impacts and resource intensity are decreased to a degree that keeps them within the limits of Earth's expected carrying capacity. Eco-efficiency – a term first proposed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in 1992 – is a management approach that allows businesses to carry out environmental protection measures from a market-oriented point of view, with the aim of illustrating that ecology and the economy do not need to be a contradiction. Indeed, eco-efficiency has been portrayed as a win-win-for both business and the environment. This book, which developed out of two conferences on eco-efficiency held in Düsseldorf in 1998 and 2001, is edited by Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and his team from the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, one of the world's leading research programmes on resource productivity. The aim is not simply to explain the past and present of eco-efficiency but to look forward to and encourage a future where the comprehensive take-up of the concept by business, government and consumers could lead to innovation on a grand scale and the possibility of a giant leap beyond towards overall sustainability. There have been considerable achievements to date. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which aims to list the most sustainable corporations for investors, includes companies such as BASF, Climatex, Henkel and Matushita/Panasonic (all represented in this book), who are implementing eco-efficiency measures. A number of political initiatives have also been formed. In December 2001, the German government suggested a National Sustainability Strategy to measure Germany's sustainable development. While this not yet an accepted political target or even law, it shows that politics is moving toward binding targets for increasing efficiency. Eco-Efficiency and Beyond collects together the leading thinkers on the topic and aims to illustrate not only that the concept should be part of every business strategy but that it is a key trigger for innovation. Innovation cuts through paradoxes. It is the creation of solutions to conflicting demands. Flying in a vacuum gave us rockets and satellites; switching electrons through insulators gave us Silicon Valley and the digital age. Sustainable development presents a similar field of paradoxical innovation forces: i.e. provide affordable products and services for the growing unmet needs of the world population while reducing environmental impacts. This book is the definitive collection on eco-efficiency and will be required reading for business, government, NGOs and academicians.

Author : Jan-Dirk Seiler-Hausmann,Christa Liedtke,Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 250 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2017-09-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781351281546

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Eco-efficiency and Beyond by Jan-Dirk Seiler-Hausmann,Christa Liedtke,Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker Pdf

Business-as-usual, it is widely accepted, will exceed the Earth's carrying capacity in an alarmingly short space of time. In simple terms, we need to learn to use the world's rapidly depleting resources in a significantly more efficient manner. Practical and readily adopted solutions are needed now. Eco-efficiency-or "produce more with less" – is achieved when goods and services satisfy human needs, increase the quality of life at competitive prices and when environmental impacts and resource intensity are decreased to a degree that keeps them within the limits of Earth's expected carrying capacity. Eco-efficiency – a term first proposed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in 1992 – is a management approach that allows businesses to carry out environmental protection measures from a market-oriented point of view, with the aim of illustrating that ecology and the economy do not need to be a contradiction. Indeed, eco-efficiency has been portrayed as a win-win-for both business and the environment. This book, which developed out of two conferences on eco-efficiency held in Düsseldorf in 1998 and 2001, is edited by Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and his team from the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, one of the world's leading research programmes on resource productivity. The aim is not simply to explain the past and present of eco-efficiency but to look forward to and encourage a future where the comprehensive take-up of the concept by business, government and consumers could lead to innovation on a grand scale and the possibility of a giant leap beyond towards overall sustainability. There have been considerable achievements to date. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which aims to list the most sustainable corporations for investors, includes companies such as BASF, Climatex, Henkel and Matushita/Panasonic (all represented in this book), who are implementing eco-efficiency measures. A number of political initiatives have also been formed. In December 2001, the German government suggested a National Sustainability Strategy to measure Germany's sustainable development. While this not yet an accepted political target or even law, it shows that politics is moving toward binding targets for increasing efficiency. Eco-Efficiency and Beyond collects together the leading thinkers on the topic and aims to illustrate not only that the concept should be part of every business strategy but that it is a key trigger for innovation. Innovation cuts through paradoxes. It is the creation of solutions to conflicting demands. Flying in a vacuum gave us rockets and satellites; switching electrons through insulators gave us Silicon Valley and the digital age. Sustainable development presents a similar field of paradoxical innovation forces: i.e. provide affordable products and services for the growing unmet needs of the world population while reducing environmental impacts. This book is the definitive collection on eco-efficiency and will be required reading for business, government, NGOs and academicians.

Author : Josefin Wangel,Eléonore Fauré
Publisher : AADR
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2021-06-07
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 3887786114

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Beyond Efficiency by Josefin Wangel,Eléonore Fauré Pdf

How could a more just and sustainable living environment be like? This anthology seeks to shed new light on how the design of built living environments shapes the possibilities for everyday life to be sustainable- The centerpiece of the anthology is a selection of speculative design experiments, including e.g. Weather Wash, Biophilia, and Interstitial Interventions. Moving from an analysis o 'what is' to an exploration of 'what if', the design experiments seek to articulate the limitations of ecomodernist urban sustainability while also opening up for alternatives. The design experiments are complemented by a number of essays, expanding on frustrations and reflections, and proving insight into how a design driven research process might be carried out, including methodological troubles. If you have an interest in planning and design for urban sustainability, futures studies and speculation, and/or design-driven research, then this book is definitely for you.

Author : Frank Figge,Tobias Hahn
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 28 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 3935630158

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Sustainable Value Added by Frank Figge,Tobias Hahn Pdf

Author : Livio D. DeSimone,Frank Popoff
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2000
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 0262541092

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Eco-efficiency by Livio D. DeSimone,Frank Popoff Pdf

This book outlines the principles of eco-efficiency and presents case studies of their application from a number of international companies, including 3M and the Dow Chemical Company. The term "eco-efficiency" describes business activities that create economic value while reducing ecological impact and resource use. This book outlines the principles of eco-efficiency and presents case studies of their application from a number of international companies, including 3M and the Dow Chemical Company. It also discusses the value of partnerships--with other companies, business associations, communities, regulators, and environmental and other nongovernmental groups. In the conclusion, the authors argue that business must become more eco-efficient and that governments need to change the conditions under which business operates, including tax and regulatory regimes, to make them more conducive to eco-efficiency.

Author : Roland Geyer
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 122 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2021-09-06
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781000427608

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The Business of Less by Roland Geyer Pdf

The Business of Less rewrites the book on business and the environment. For the last thirty years, corporate sustainability was synonymous with the pursuit of ‘eco-efficiency’ and ‘win-win’ opportunities. The notion of ‘eco-efficiency’ gives us the illusion that we can achieve environmental sustainability without having to question the pursuit of never-ending economic growth. The ‘win-win’ paradigm is meant to assure us that companies can be protectors of the environment whilst also being profit maximizers. It is abundantly clear that the state of the natural environment has further degraded instead of improved. This book introduces a new paradigm designed to finally reconcile business and the environment. It is called ‘net green’, which means that in these times of ecological overshoot businesses need to reduce total environmental impact and not just improve the eco-efficiency of their products. The book also introduces and explains the four pollution prevention principles ‘again’, ‘different’, ‘less’, and ‘labor, not materials’. Together, ‘net green’ and the four pollution prevention principles provide a road map, for businesses and for every household, to a world in which human prosperity and a healthy environment are no longer at odds. The Business of Less is full of anecdotes and examples. This brings its material to life and makes the book not only very accessible, but also hugely applicable for everyone who is worried about the fate of our planet and is looking for answers.

Author : Sheldon Christopher
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 410 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2017-09-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781351283359

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ISO 14001 and Beyond by Sheldon Christopher Pdf

On September 1st 1996, ISO 14001 was published, worldwide. Written over five years in consultation with international industrial experts, non-governmental organizations and regulators, this environmental management systems standard will help organizations manage their impacts on the environment, no matter what their size, nature or location. The implications for the future are enormous. But what does the standard mean in the real world? What changes do managers have to make to accommodate its principles? What decisions need to be faced and when? Is it really going to make a difference or is it just another case of global greenwash? Will it be another missed opportunity for you, your organisation, or your market? At the start of what promises to be a worldwide explosion of interest in standardised EMSs, ISO 14001 and Beyond looks at their creation, their use, and their limitations, attempting to discover the essential truth about this important management tool and where it will take industry. ISO 14001 and Beyond assembles the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field to record their thoughts and experiences on the new standard, its advantages and disadvantages. The book is designed to provide the reader with enough information with which to form an opinion on the future, and how that will influence subsequent actions. It also provides reassurance that, although the problems are real, so are the solutions. ISO 14001 and Beyond gives you the opportunity to read what some of the best minds have made of the standard so far and what they think lies ahead. There are reports covering a global spectrum of concern: from the US, Russia, Japan, Canada, Germany, the UK, and more; from multinationals, small- and medium-sized enterprises, local government, universities and professional bodies. All this material is gathered together in one book to give you the best, most meaningful information for the crucial decisions that you will need to make in the coming months.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : UN
Page : 86 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : UCBK:C104760214

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Eco-efficiency by Anonim Pdf

North-East Asian economies face the serious challenge of sustaining the economic and social progress it has achieved without overdrawing its natural capital beyond their restorative capacity or does not become sinks for the residuals produced. This publication covered discussions on an alternative to the current path of development: a choice, by which governments, private sector and civil society as whole can make and collectively take actions.

Author : Mr. Serhan Cevik,Kelly Gao
Publisher : International Monetary Fund
Page : 19 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2023-09-22
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9798400255540

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Reaching (Beyond) the Frontier: Energy Efficiency in Europe by Mr. Serhan Cevik,Kelly Gao Pdf

The world is not decarbonizing fast enough, with global warming on track to reach as much as 4°C over the next century absent a global green transition. Policymakers in Europe—and beyond—still have an opportunity both to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and to strengthen economic prospects by increasing energy efficiency, along with changing the energy mix from fossil fuels to renewables. In this paper, we assess energy efficiency (or intensity) in a panel of 38 European countries over the period 1980–2021 by using the stochastic frontier analysis and obtain statistically significant and intuitive results. We have two key findings. First, price signals, including through the introduction of a carbon tax and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, are critical for energy efficiency, as consumers respond to changes in energy prices. Second, stronger environmental policies and institutions generate unambiguous improvements in energy efficiency by inducing investment in energy efficient equipment and buildings and nudging consumers for energy conservation. These results—robust to alternative specifications and methods—have important policy implications for green growth with higher energy efficiency.

Author : Wayne Visser,Clem Sunter
Publisher : Human & Rosseau
Page : 196 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : STANFORD:36105113014034

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Beyond Reasonable Greed by Wayne Visser,Clem Sunter Pdf

In a critical analysis of the principles driving modern business, the authors demonstrate that the predatory behaviour of the lion is symbolic of the way most companies are run today. They argue strongly for an alternative and more positive vision involving sustainable business in both a social and environmental sense.

Author : Mark W. McElroy,J.M.L. van Engelen
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 258 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2012-05-23
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781136329616

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Corporate Sustainability Management by Mark W. McElroy,J.M.L. van Engelen Pdf

Businesses around the world are increasingly turning to an exciting new branch of management known as corporate sustainability management (CSM) to help them better understand and manage their non-financial performance. Indeed, what we are witnessing is nothing less than the birth of a new management function. The main pillar of CSM is the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), which has been successful as an organizing principle but a disappointment in practice. This is largely due to the absence of 'sustainability context' in related measurement, management and reporting efforts, when for example the monitoring of a company's use of freshwater resources fails to take into account the size of related supplies. This book is the first to introduce a systematic means of including context in sustainability management and doing effective CSM. After making the case for why context matters, the book explains how to do context-based CSM by providing a stepwise, cyclical blueprint for how to practice it in any organization. This includes a template for context-based metrics compatible with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), as well as specific examples of metrics for each of the triple bottom lines. Practical examples of best practices are presented throughout, while simultaneously addressing key issues, such as how organizations can measure performance against context-based standards when consensus for such standards does not yet exist. Appendices include tools for developing and applying context-based metrics, as well as case studies taken from the practice of context-based CSM at two companies in the United States. This guide is the essential tool for business and organizational leaders in all sectors committed to improving their sustainability performance, with a particular emphasis on measurement, management and reporting.

Author : Rebecca L. Henn,Andrew J. Hoffman
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 419 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2013-08-02
Category : Architecture
ISBN : 9780262315395

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Constructing Green by Rebecca L. Henn,Andrew J. Hoffman Pdf

Experts consider green construction and the social, institutional, and cultural changes associated with it, through a sociological and organizational lens. Buildings are the nation's greatest energy consumers. Forty percent of all our energy is used for heating, cooling, lighting, and powering machines and devices in buildings. And despite decades of investment in green construction technologies, residential and commercial buildings remain stubbornly energy inefficient. This book looks beyond the technological and material aspects of green construction to examine the cultural, social, and organizational shifts that sustainable building requires, examining the fundamental challenge to centuries-long traditions in design and construction that green building represents. The contributors consider the changes associated with green building through a sociological and organizational lens. They discuss shifts in professional expertise created by new social concerns about green building, including evolving boundaries of professional jurisdictions; changing industry strategies and structures, including the roles of ownership, supply firms, and market niches; new operational, organizational, and cultural arrangements, including the mainstreaming of environmental concerns; narratives and frames that influence the perception of green building; and future directions for the theory and practice of sustainable construction. The essays offer uniquely multidisciplinary insights into the transformative potential of green building and the obstacles that must be overcome to make it the norm. Contributors Lauren Barhydt, Clayton Bartczak, Lyn Bartram, Olivier Berthod, Nicole Woolsey Biggart, Lenora Bohren, Bertien Broekhans, William Browning, Zinta S. Byrne, Michael Conger, Jennifer E. Cross, David Deal, Beth M. Duckles, Brian Dunbar, Robert Eccles, Amy Edmondson, Bill Franzen, Ronald Fry, Rebecca L. Henn, Jock Herron, Stephen Hockley, Andrew J. Hoffman, Kathryn B. Janda, Nitin Joglekar, Gavin Killip, Alison G. Kwok, Larissa Larsen, Michelle A. Meyer, Christine Mondor, Monica Ponce de Leon, Nicholas B. Rajkovich, Stuart Reeve, Johnny Rodgers, Garima Sharma, Geoffrey Thün, Ellen van Bueren, Kathy Velikov, Rohit Verma, Robert Woodbury, Jeffrey G. York, Jie Zhang

Author : Christopher Caldwell
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 198 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2012-09
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780987670007

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Beyond Corporate Responsibility by Christopher Caldwell Pdf

Beyond Corporate Responsibility: The New Organizational Consciousness leverages the traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform for business and organizations and engages managers and leaders in a way that brings change in the hearts and minds of the stakeholders. CSR has in many cases become a cosmetic rather than strategic approach. Utilizing a mix of psychology, management science and new research in consciousness raising, you will learn how to develop your own program and employ a values-driven campaign to take the CSR project or program to a new level of motivation and inspiration, tapping into people and unleashing the potential of your employees and peers for a sustainable future. The book dares to push traditional thinking and makes a case that a way can be found to embrace a 'spiritual' corporation for true sustainability approach to a fair economy, well-being and health, and harmony with nature.

Author : John C. Dernbach
Publisher : Environmental Law Institute
Page : 1038 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : Law
ISBN : 1585760366

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Stumbling Toward Sustainability by John C. Dernbach Pdf

In 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, the nations of the world agreed to implement an ambitious plan for ecologically sustainable human development. This book is a comprehensive review of U.S. efforts to achieve such development since Rio. The U.S. has unquestionably begun to take steps toward sustainable development. Yet the nation is now far from being a sustainable society, and in many respects is farther away than it was in 1992. Nevertheless, legal and policy tools are available to put the U.S. on a direct path to sustainability. This book brings together 42 distinguished experts from a variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines. It is among the most thorough assessments ever conducted of U.S. law and policy concerning the environment.

Author : Aharon Factor,John Parm Ulhøi
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 266 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 2021-03-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780429760778

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Sustainability and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises by Aharon Factor,John Parm Ulhøi Pdf

Industrialisation has brought great benefits to humankind but now, after 200 years of fossil fuel use, land clearance and pollution, the planet’s boundaries are being stretched to their limits. Going beyond these confines would have severe consequences for humankind. To prevent this from happening, government, corporate and community initiatives must focus on reducing the environmental impact of approximately 400 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), given that they produce approximately 70% of the world’s pollution, 60% of carbon emissions and have a significant impact on land. To date, research shows that SMEs have been environmental laggards and more needs to be understood to improve sustainability in the SME sector. Broadening the researcher’s methodological focus, beyond traditional singular approaches, improves knowledge generation and better informs policy and practice. This book paves the way by showing the reader that a mixed method research design is able to provide a deep, diverse and holistic understanding of sustainability and SMEs. Importantly, the book also provides an in-depth mapping of mixed method sustainability and SME research at a regional level. As this book is about environmental sustainability framed in a business context, it will be of interest to researchers, academics, students and those in industry who are enquiring about the environmental sustainability of SMEs.