All of us seem to have forgotten what fresh air smells like. This is because over the generations, we have polluted our environment tremendously. If we want to preserve water, soil and the forests for our future generations, and if we want to live a life free of diseases and disasters, it is imperative that we try and adopt environmental practices that are eco-friendly and efficient.
In order to retain our resources and conserving them for the future, we need to use them cautiously.
Eco-efficiency means to minimize the use of raw materials, energy, to reduce pollution level by recycling waste materials and using renewable materials. Therefore, efficient and eco-friendly technology is essential to safeguard the environment, enhance productivity and reducing cost to achieve sustainable use of resources.
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World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 1992 aimed at creating more goods and services by using minimum natural resources and creating less waste and pollution. This concept was coined as eco- efficiency. It includes:
i. Use of renewable resources
ii. Minimum use of natural resources
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iii. Reduction in the use of fossil fuel/energy
iv. Reduction in the release of toxic substances
v. Improved recyclability to save natural resources
vi. Greater durability of products
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vii. Creating more goods and services
This would demand cleaner and more efficient technologies such as using non-conventional source of energy, solar water heater than burning fossil fuel or fuel wood.