Eco-efficiency: Philosophy, Theory, and Tools.

The article discusses the philosophy, theory and tools of eco-efficiency. Eco-efficiency is described as being achieved by the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle. Its importance lies in its ability to combine performance along the axes of sustainable development, environment and economics. History of the notion that increasing economic development would have to be correlated with lowering of environmental impact is discussed. The First International Conference on Quantified Eco-efficiency in 2004 highlighted the lack of focus on providing quantitative interpretations of and methods for eco-efficiency.