Summary
In order to ensure a lasting protection of the eco-system functions and services, as well as in order to maximize the competitive economic advantage of the EU, the following actions, legal provisions, and R&D pertaining to eco-innovation are recommended.
further information: Eco Innovation Plan
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The objective of this study is to support the European Parliaments ITRE Committee in its work on the EU’s industrial and energy policy and to give advice on the following issues: Why is the issue of resource scarcity back on the agenda? What are the strategic conclusions for the EU? What can the EU expect from eco-innovation in a large range of industrial sectors? Are existing measures meeting the EU aims and expectations, and what new policy initiatives should be set forward? To meet these objectives, this study is structured as follows: Chapter 2 will give an overview on resource scarcities. Chapter 3 elaborates on ecoinnovation, including trends, barriers and driving forces. Chapter 4 outlines proposals for future EU policies. Chapter 5 sketches out a possible vision for the future.
futher information: Eco Innovation
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.
Lincoln’s Second Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862
In brief
Sustainable economic conditions cannot be reached without increasing the resource productivity of the industrialized countries dramatically. The price structure as well as economic boni and mali must be adjusted for approaching sustainability. By 2050, the worldwide average per capita consumption shall not exceed 8 tons of material per year. System policies need be developed and applied to ascertain success.
further indormation: system policies
How to develop eco-innovative products and services and improve their material footprint
Foreword
Without radical dematerialization there will be no economic sustainability.In his book The Call Girls Arthur Koestler once noted About feelings of gloom and warnings ofdoom. These two attitudes must not be confused. It is a great mistake to confuse them. A warning
serves a preventive, a positive purpose. A warning must be life-affirming. The geese on the Capitolwere not gloomy, Cassandra was. So the geese succeeded with their warning and Cassandra did not.
For many years we in the environmental protection business were considered Cassandras. Unfortunately the climatic changes and Katrina in New Orleans among many other recent desasters made us look more like geese.
It is 20 years since I came to the conclusion that the physical root cause for the ecological failure ofour economy is the extravagant consumption of natural resources. This may sound trivial today, but atthat time I was pretty much alone with this opinion.
Still today, some 90% of the material lifted from nature does not appear in final goods! I proposed atenfold dematerialization of western technologies on average as a conditio sine qua non for approachingsustainable conditions, and my co-workers later showed in enterprises throughout Europe andJapan that very substantial savings in resource inputs are achievable with state of the art technologywithout loss of end-use satisfaction.
further information: Resource Productivity in 7 steps