Better – But is it Good Enough? On the Need to Consider Both Eco-efficiency and Eco-effectiveness to Gauge Industrial Sustainability

Abstract

Sustainability is gaining prominence among the priorities of large companies, and engineers have taken on the eco-efficiency challenge, optimizing the functionality and minimizing the negative environmental impacts of our products and technologies. Although impressive improvements in efficiency can be demonstrated in many local cases, increases in population, affluence and consumption create an opposite trend that we need to factor in when we address sustainability of our technological developments in an absolute sense. The paper discusses absolute boundaries for environmental sustainability, metrics for gauging our solutions against these boundaries and the need and possibilities of expanding our focus from efficiency to effectiveness.

Evaluating Eco‐Efficiency of 3D Printing in the Aeronautic Industry

“…The WBCSD defines eco-efficiency as the ratio between the production value to maximize and the environmental impacts to minimize. Despite certain known limitations, such as the possible rebound effects (Abukhader 2008;Hauschild 2015;Mizobuchi 2008;Small and Dender 2005;Sorrell et al 2009), eco-efficiency has been widely applied throughout the past 20 years to support the eco-design of products (Huppes and Ishikawa 2007;Kicherer et al 2007;Rüdenauer et al 2005). It provides a relative metric to compare design options ensuring the same function (or utility).…”

A simplified environmental evaluation tool for food packaging to support decision‐making in packaging development

“…55 The focus on ecoefficiency in LCAs has been criticized because, while product A might have a lower environmental impact than product B, neither might be environmentally sustainable in absolute terms. 71 In contrast, the concept of eco-effectiveness is concerned with the optimization of a product's positive environmental impact. 16 Circular economy thinking and the cradle-to-cradle concept, 72 with their focus on maintaining material quality in biological and technical cycles, build on the ecoeffectiveness idea.…”

“…73 Although eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness appear to be conflicting concepts, several authors have pointed out that eco-design can benefit from integrating both concepts. 71,74 While the EEFP tool criteria were not actively selected to balance eco-effectiveness and eco-efficiency thinking, both elements are well represented (see Figure 4). The packaging criteria in Figure 4 are sorted based on whether the criteria focus on minimizing negative environmental impact (eco-efficiency) or maximizing environmental benefit (ecoeffectiveness).…”

“…LCA‐based methods are ideal for comparing the eco‐efficiency of products and packaging . The focus on eco‐efficiency in LCAs has been criticized because, while product A might have a lower environmental impact than product B, neither might be environmentally sustainable in absolute terms . In contrast, the concept of eco‐effectiveness is concerned with the optimization of a product's positive environmental impact .…”

“…While the cradle‐to‐cradle concept provides a long‐term vision for a sustainable society, it has been criticized for omitting certain life‐cycle phases (such as the energy consumption of products) and for an incomplete consideration of global warming . Although eco‐efficiency and eco‐effectiveness appear to be conflicting concepts, several authors have pointed out that eco‐design can benefit from integrating both concepts . While the EEFP tool criteria were not actively selected to balance eco‐effectiveness and eco‐efficiency thinking, both elements are well represented (see Figure ).…”