Eco-efficiency
Eco-efficiency can be defined as maximizing the efficiency while minimizing the impact on the environment.
It can be seen as the relationship between the economic output and the environmental impact caused by products or activities.
There are no international standards for conducting eco-efficiency analysis, but different tools and methods described within
the DANTES project can be combined to assess the eco-efficiency of products or processes. Common for all eco-efficiency studies
is that different products or processes are compared from a life cycle perspective.
In many situations it is useful to determine the eco-efficiency of a product or activity. For example, when comparing new products
with competing products on the market environmental as well as economical aspects are necessary in order to evaluate the market
acceptance of the new products and the possibility to gain market shares. An eco-efficiency analysis also serves well as a basis
for decisions regarding new investments or for optimizing product development processes.
The Strategy
Eco-efficiency analysis of products or processes describes how an Eco-efficiency analysis was conducted by Akzo Nobel
within the DANTES project. The method used in the study was developed by BASF and combines the life cycle inventory with the risks,
toxicity and life cycle costs connected to the products.
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