Resource efficiency potential of selected technologies, products and strategies Originally published as:Rohn, H. ; Pastewski, N. ; Lettenmeier, M. ; Wiesen, K. ; Bienge, K. (2014) AbstractDespite of rising prices for natural resources during the past 30 years, global consumption of natural resources is still growing. This leads to ecological, economical and social problems. So far, however, limited effort has been made to decrease the natural resource use of goods and services. While resource efficiency is already on the political agenda (EU and national resource strategies), there are still substantial knowledge gaps on the effectiveness of resource efficiency improvement strategies in different fields. In this context and within the project "Material Efficiency and Resource Conservation", the natural resource use of 22 technologies, products and strategies was calculated and their resource efficiency potential analysed.In a preliminary literature-and expert-based identification process, over 250 technologies, strategies, and products, which are regarded as resource efficient, were identified. Out of these, 22 subjects with high resource efficiency potential were selected. They cover a wide range of relevant technologies, products and strategies, such as energy supply and storage, Green IT, transportation, foodstuffs, agricultural engineering, design strategies, lightweight construction, as well as the concept "Using Instead of Owning". To assess the life-cycle-wide resource use of the selected subjects, the material footprint has been applied as a reliable indicator. In addition, sustainability criteria on a qualitative basis were considered.The results presented in this paper show significant resource efficiency potential for many technologies, products and strategies.

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New technologies can be the basis for resource-efficient products and services and thus create eco-innovations, either by creating new functionalities in existing or new application fields or by substituting existing technologies in existing or new application fields. In this paper, an overview over different technology fields, products and strategies with resource efficiency potential, such as nanotechnologies, material science, manufacturing technologies, process technologies and cross-cutting issues, is presented. There is a special focus on applications from nanotechnology issuing, e.g. functional surfaces or new 'smart' materials with special functionalities. Furthermore, it is shown how companies can use the method Resource Efficiency Technology Radar to identify and evaluate technologies with resource efficiency in order to incorporate them into their development activities.

Scarcity of resources, rising material and energy prices and global warming have lead to an increasing demand for resource efficient solutions or 'eco-innovations'. Technological trends can serve as an enabler here: New technologies can be the basis for resource efficient products, processes and services. With the concept "Resource Efficiency Technology Radar", technological options with resource efficiency potential can be identified and assessed. It facilitates a systematic technology intelligence process and includes an assessment of the future technological lifecycle based on the method Material Intensity per Service Unit (MIPS). The results can be integrated into technology and innovation management and planning.