What is eco-efficient design?

Eco-efficiency is achieved by the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and improve quality of life while progressively reducing environmental impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle to a level at least in line with the Earth’s estimated carrying capacity.

The seven steps towards achieving ecoefficiency are

1. Reduce the material intensity of goods and services.
2. Reduce the energy intensity of goods and services.
3. Reduce toxic dispersion.
4. Enhance material recyclability.
5. Maximize sustainable use of renewable resources.
6. Extend product durability and
7. Increase the service intensity of goods and services.

The greater the improvement in each of these dimensions -- and the more dimensions in
which improvement occurs -- the more eco-efficient a product or process is