Eco-efficiency

UeSimone, L. D., and Popoff, F. (1997). Eco-Efficiency The Business Link to Sustainable Development Cambridge, MA MIT Press. 

From reviewing much of the literature it is easy to conclude that ionic liquids are excellent solvents for catalysts and reagents but not for products, which is obviously not the case. Whilst some products can be decanted from the liquid and others can be recovered by distillation, there are many useful reactions in which removal of the product (or residual reactants) from the ionic liquid is challenging. Extraction with an organic solvent, or even water, would reduce the overall eco-efficiency. Initial... 

A useful example of sustainable design comes from BASF, and their development of the eco-efficiency tool. This tool seeks to integrate the combined aspects of each of the three pillars in an attempt to quantify the most sustainable products and illustrates some of the concerns associated with evaluating sustainable products. For example, the economic analysis includes a total cost of ownership that goes beyond the purchase price of a product to incorporate the cost of operation, the cost of environmental health and safety, and the cost of labour. Thus, even though a product may have a lower purchase price, it may be more expensive to use and thus costlier over the total life cycle of the product. 

Shonnard, D.R., Kicherer, A., Saling, P. (2003) Industrial Applications Using BASF Eco-Efficiency Analysis Perspectives on Green Engineering Principles. Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 5340-5348. 

Durability. Durability can be a useful way of improving eco-efiiciency. A product that has a long useful life minimises the impact per unit of service in the overall life cycle. However, there needs to be a balance, as a durable product with a poor environmental performance may block the introduction of a more eco-efficient technology. In many cases, governments have been driven to use fiscal incentives to encourage the adoption of a more environmentally friendly product because of the installed base of older but durable technologies. 

Vercalsteren A, Spirinckx C, Geerken T (2010) Life cycle assessment and eco-efficiency analysis of drinking cups used at public events. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15(2) 221-230... 

Ecclesiastical wines, 26 301 Ecdysone receptor agonists, 14 345 ECHIP JMP 4.0.4, features compared to other software, 8 398t ECLP tube press, 11 373 Eco-check Product excellence, 24 189 Eco-efficiency analysis, 24 189, 190 Eco-Efficiency program, 9 457 Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyestuffs and Organic Pigments Manufacturers (ETAD), 9 234, 238 19 452... 

In recent years, great advances have been made in the application of new bio-catalytic and chemocatalytic procedures, in particular with respect to asymmetric synthesis, but processes are still mainly step-by-step and rather arbitrary combinations of catalytic and stoichiometric conversions. The latter pose increasing problems for eco-efficient and economic manufacturing on an industrial scale. 

A biorefinery maximizes the value derived from the complex biomass feedstock by (a) optimal use and valorization of feedstock, (b) optimization and integration of processes for better efficiency, and (c) optimization of inputs (water, energy, etc.) and waste recycling/treatment. Integrated production of bioproducts, especially for bulk chemicals, biofuels, biolubricants and polymers, can improve their competitiveness and eco-efficiency. However, although a few examples of biorefineries already exist (Chapters 3 and 6), many improvements are still needed to enhance the process [5] ... 

Process eco-efficiency conversion of biomass derived raw materials with high performance, stability and selectivity, and which preserve the complexity already preformed in biomolecules New catalytic reactor engineering solutions to improve energy and process efficiency Process simplification by effective integration of catalysis and separation in new advanced processes New catalysts able to cope with the natural variability in the quality of raw materials. 

Biopolymers are certainly a product of the future. Their high eco-efficiency in some applications drives the development of these plastics [133]. In some niche markets, their higher production costs resulting from time-consuming purification and less than ideal raw materials can be neglected, but for large-scale applications of several million tons per year and real competitiveness with commodity polymers, new catalytic routes that lead directly to the polymeric material without generation of side-products are necessary. 

Superior lifecycle eco-efficiency (e.g., for garden waste bags)... 

Fiksel, J., Ed. (1996) Design for Environment Creating Eco-Efficient Products and Processes, McGraw-Hill, New York. 

One element within this possible "framework for eco-efficiency" should therefore be a catalogue of measures stimulating the dissemination of Best Practices as outlined in SAICM s "Global Plan of Action". Chemical Leasing shall become a central element of that instrument and its implementing processes. 

Due to the Austrian initiatives and in particular due to the ambitious activities of UNIDO, service-oriented approaches represent a growing and promising tendency both within chemicals policy as well as within the chemicals industry. These models are eco-efficient by nature and show a tremendous potential in terms of achieving ecological as well as economic benefits. 

Behrens A (2004) Environmental policy instruments for dematerialisation of the European Union. SERI Background Papers, No 7. Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Vienna EUROSTAT (2001) Economy-wide material flow accounts and derived indicators. A methodological guide. Statistical Office of the European Union, Luxembourg Giljum S (2006) Material flow-based indicators for evaluation of eco-efficiency and dematerialisation policies. In Lawn P (ed) Sustainability indicators in Ecological Economics. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham... 

Hinterberger F, Hammer M, Luks F, Omann I, Stewen M, Stocker A, Hutterer H, Strigl A, Schmidt-Bleek F (2004) Eco-Efficient Innovation. State of the Art and Policy Recommendations. Paper for the Informal Environment Council on 16-18 July 2004 in Maastricht... 

Seiler-Hausmann J.-D. Liedtke C. and von Weizsacker E.U. (eds.) (2004). Eco-efficiency and Beyond Towards the Sustainable Enterprise. Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield, U.K., 248 pp. 

Biotechnology will allow increasingly eco-efficient use of renewable resources as raw materials for the (chemical) industry ... 

Schrott, W. and Saling, P., Eco-efficiency analysis—Testing products for their value to the customer. Melliand Textilberichte 81(3), 190, 192-194, 2000. 

Landsiedel, R. and Saling, P. Assessment of toxicological risks for life cycle assessment and eco-efficiency analysis. Int. 1 Life Cycle Assess. 7(5), 261-268, 2002. 

Shonnard, D. R., Kichere, A., and Saling, P., industrial applications using BASF eco-efficiency analysis Perspectives on green engineering principles, Environ. Sci. Technol., 37, 5340-5348, 2003. 

Wall-Markcwski, C. A, Kicherer, A., and Saling, P., Using eco-efficiency analysis to assess renewable-resource-based technologies, Environ. Progress 23(4), 329-333, 2004. 

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