Counting biodiversity waste in industrial eco-efficiency: fisheries case study

The foundation for the creation of eco-efficiency metrics for industrial impacts on biodiversity is considered. Because biodiversity is the essence of life itself, these metrics are essential for effectiveness in the theory and practice of eco-efficiency, particularly in the case of primary natural resource extraction industries such as fishing and forestry. The case of fishing is examined, with particular attention to by-catch, lost nets, and habitat damage caused by mobile fishing gears. It is appropriate to examine fishing because industrial era impacts on marine biodiversity have been severe and are driving large and deleterious changes in marine ecosystems. For discarded by-catch, it is proposed that an eco-efficient metric for the value per unit mass of discarded fish can be set to be equivalent to that of the market value of the utilized catch. In estimating the eco-efficient value of the catch, the value of the discarded fish is then subtracted from the market value of the catch. Fish killed in lost nets can be treated similarly. It is more difficult to address marine habitat damage by mobile fishing gear, which has the highest potential for ecological injury.By using the approach proposed, negative eco-efficiencies are obtained under circumstances in which the collateral damage to biodiversity exceeds the economic benefit obtained. This is a logical outcome given the long-term effects of biodiversity decline. A metric is also proposed for assessing whether avoidance of harm to biodiversity, in the form of switching fishing gear, is required. Lastly it is proposed that metrics might be developed to provide eco-efficiency credit for companies taking effective actions to improve, or actively participate in, ecosystem-based fisheries management.     

Eco-efficiency in the Australian minerals processing sector

The resources sector has come to accept that the global quest for sustainable development is one of the key shapers of its future development and business success. While much uncertainty remains regarding the full ramifications of sustainable development, it is uncontested that preventive environmental and resource productivity strategies, or eco-efficiency (EE), are conditional for the minerals industry's ability to progress in sustainable development. A customised framework for EE in minerals processing is proposed. It connects five prevention practices (process design; input substitution; plant improvement; good housekeeping; and reuse, recycling and recovery) with five resource productivity themes (resource efficiency; energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; water use and impacts; control of minor elements and toxics; and by-product creation). These are illustrated with practical examples from gold, base metals, alumina, aluminium and pigment operations in Australia. This illustrates that EE is possible from technical and operational perspectives, with implementation ultimately depending on the ability of project teams to build a convincing business case. Moreover, from a technology perspective, EE can be fostered at three distinct and mutually reinforcing innovation platforms: operations; plant design; and process technology.     

Improving eco-efficiency in the steel industry: The ArcelorMittal Gent case

In addition to CO₂ released by the combustion of fossil fuel and leading to climate change, large steelworks emit pollutants that have other environmental impacts. ArcelorMittal Gent, an integrated steelwork producing ca. 5 × 10⁶ tons of steel per year, not only decreased its specific energy consumption and CO₂-emissions, but also reduced the environmental impact of its other emissions. This is illustrated by means of the evolution of 6 partial eco-efficiency indicators for the impact categories acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, eutrophication and water use. The partial eco-efficiency indicators are eco-intensities, defined as the environmental impact in the respective impact category, divided by the amount of liquid steel produced. In the period 1995 – 2005 these indicators decreased by 45, 4, 52, 9, 11 and 33% respectively, whereas the steel production increased by 17%. The net impact of discharges of wastewater is negligible for human toxicity and is negative (concentrations lower than in the canal water used) for freshwater aquatic toxicity and eutrophication. For acidification, human toxicity (only emissions to air) and water use, the decoupling between environmental impact and production was absolute; for photo-oxidant formation, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (only emissions to air) and eutrophication, it was relative.     

Comparison of “CO2 efficiency” between company and industry

The concept of eco-efficiency, product or service value per environmental influence, was applied to define “total CO₂ efficiency”, “direct CO₂ efficiency” and “indirect CO₂ efficiency” using Input–Output (I–O) table analysis for the evaluation of companies and industries. The result shows that the analysis of the efficiency was useful to characterize industries according to CO₂ efficiency. The comparison of company-based CO₂ efficiency against I–O-based CO₂ efficiency was possible for beer companies and petroleum companies because they almost completely belong to a single type of industry sectors. However, generally such comparison was difficult for the companies that belong to many industry sectors. Therefore, we proposed the new method “integrated CO₂ efficiency index for company evaluation (ICEICE)” which makes it possible to compare the environmental performances of all the companies regardless of the number of industry sectors they belong to.     

网络有效性:评价旅游活动对环境影响的一个新指标

旅游会给环境带来一定的负面影响,而旅游区的游径往往是这种影响的集中体现地。游径的构建方式、空间格局在很大程度上决定了旅游对环境的影响程度。但目前景观生态学中相关的廊道指标不能对此做出有效的评价。论文以九寨沟国家级自然保护区为案例研究地,克服现有廊道指标只单一考虑空间特性的局限,将廊道的空间格局与生态功能结合起来,采用运筹学的方法,提出网络有效性这个新的指标。在九寨沟案例研究地的应用表明,与传统景观生态学指标连通度和环通度相比,网络有效性指标能够直观地反映游径的利用状况,也能够较好地反映旅游的环境影响程度,从而为旅游管理提供依据。     

The Queensland food eco-efficiency project: reducing risk and improving competitiveness

For the past several years, cleaner production, or what is now commonly referred to as eco-efficiency by the business sector, has been promoted widely, but in a relatively ad-hoc manner. As a consequence, the advantages to industry and society stemming from the uptake of eco-efficiency have been difficult to quantify and assess. This paper details how the Queensland Food Processing Eco-Efficiency Project has attempted to overcome some of these barriers by implementing a two year project focused on: involving and gaining the support of as much of the industry sector as possible; using external expertise, providing the support and technical advice essential to the successful uptake of eco-efficiency by businesses; establishing the key environmental concerns for the industry; identifying realistic eco-efficiency opportunities through site assessments and visits; developing case studies based on quantifiable outcomes; developing tools and resources to enable businesses to successfully implement their own eco-efficiency initiatives; the wide and free distribution of these resources and tools to the entire Queensland industry; follow up workshops and awareness briefings together with the eventual development of a forum to allow effective industry networking to continue.     

Implementing stricter environmental regulation to enhance eco-efficiency and sustainability: a case study of Shandong Province’s pulp and paper industry, China

There has been much debate on the topic of whether stricter environmental regulations can promote environmental performance and economic performance at the same time. Different researchers have used different indicators to measure environmental performance and economic performance in their empirical studies. However, it is a surprise that few studies have checked the relationship between environmental regulation and eco-efficiency, as the latter is widely regarded as a quite powerful tool of considering ecology and economy together.In this study the background is the implementation in 2003 of the Stricter Discharge Standard (SDS) in Shandong Province’s Pulp and Paper Industry (SPPI), compared to the national standards of China. The stricter regulations were intended to promote corporate change from passive management to active control and from end-of-pipe treatment to cleaner production. This study investigated the eco-efficiency trends of SPPI from 2001 to 2008 in three fields: water efficiency, energy efficiency and environment efficiency. A “de-linking” and “re-linking” tool was used to attain a further evaluation. The study showed that with the implementation of stricter regulation most of the efficiency indicators (except CO₂ emission and energy consumption) had achieved significant improvements, and the overall environmental performance trends of SPPI showed it to be more sustainable. However, the study also found that it was not enough to address a single indicator in the environmental regulation of the pulp and paper industry. More holistic eco-efficiency indicators need to be further considered and introduced to the industry as the next step to create true sustainable development.     

北京城市物质代谢的能值分析与生态效率评估

城市如同生命体一样,需要持续不断的代谢过程完成其正常运转.城市可持续发展研究的关键是城市物质代谢流量及其代谢效率研究,但物质代谢流量仅能反映代谢速率,而其生态效率则反映了支持社会经济发展的物质代谢能力.采用能值分析方法,引入"生态效率"概念,构建了城市物质代谢生态效率的度量模型,从代谢流量及其效率2个方面核算了北京市资源环境及经济发展的代谢状况.结果表明:1990～2004年,北京市可利用总能值非常丰富,经济发展程度较高;来自本土可更新自然资源相对匮乏,大部分来源于不可更新资源和系统购买的资源与服务;城市废弃物资源化水平有待提高,环境压力较大;生态效率指数呈现出增加的趋势,2004年生态效率指数比1990年提高了3.6倍,表明城市自组织能力、发展潜力以及再生循环能力不断提高.说明提高城市物质代谢生态效率的根本途径是经济效率、资源效率和环境效率的协同发展,以及逐步构建废物资源化的循环链条.     

基于生态效率的城市可持续性评价及应用研究

综合评价城市复合生态系统是实现区域可持续发展要面对的重要科学问题.城市生态效率反映了城市系统的资源环境与社会福利的投入产出关系,是将可持续发展的宏观目标融入城市发展规划与管理中的有效工具.综合生态足迹和人类发展指数的理论方法,构建了基于生态效率的城市可持续性评价模型.应用该模型对厦门市生态效率进行了时间序列分析:2000～2006年,厦门市生态效率呈现先平稳上升后陡然下降又小幅回升的波动性变化.厦门市人均生态足迹由4.279hm2增加至5.462hm2;人类发展指数由0.831增加至0.896;生态效率下降15.5%,资源效率下降15.7%,环境效率下降15.3%.研究表明,厦门市的可持续性经历了由可持续性次增强→可持续性增强→可持续性减弱→可持续性增强路径的转变,总体趋势仍是可持续性减弱.     

企业环境管理会计核算框架与方法研究

企业环境管理会计从环境的角度,将企业的环境影响纳入到环境会计的核算范围之内,构建一些实物型或价值型的环境业绩指标,表达企业对环境造成的影响或损害。本文立足于国际环境会计应用案例,结合财务会计特征和我国目前的环境教据基础,研究提出了中国企业环境管理会计的基本内涵和方法框架,并就如何加强企业环境管理会计的应用进行了讨论。     

焦作市工业行业的生态效率

以工业城市焦作市为例,选择工业能源消费和污染物(包括废水、固体废物、SO2、烟尘等)排放作为环境负荷,定量分析工业分行业的生态效率及分行业特定环境负荷对总环境负荷的贡献率.结果表明,能源效率最高的行业是黑色金属矿采选业(FMM),为43.19万元·tce-1,贡献率为0.003%;废水排放相关环境效率最高的是交通运输设...     

Eco-efficiency trends of the Flemish industry: decoupling of environmental impact from economic growth

A methodology for eco-efficiency reporting is proposed with eco-efficiency indicators for climate change, acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, eutrophication, energy consumption and waste generation. The method is applied to emission, consumption and production data of the Flemish industry provided by the Flemish environmental agency for the period 1995–2006. For climate change, acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity and eutrophication, the eco-efficiency improved by 39, 55, 41, 58, 72 and 53%, respectively. For each of these impact categories, the total environmental impact decreased despite an increase in production, indicating absolute decoupling of environmental impact from economic growth. The eco-efficiency indicator for energy consumption and waste generation improved by 16 and 14%, respectively. However, due to the increase in production, the total energy consumption and the amount of waste generated increased: for these two environmental themes decoupling from economic growth was relative. Despite the improved eco-efficiency, industry remains one of the main polluters in Flanders. The application of the method to emission, energy consumption and production data of the Flemish industry resulted in a comprehensive and correct source of information for the general public and the government. Moreover, it can serve as a basis for economically and environmentally sound decisions and for the evaluation of the impact of former decisions.     

Environmental management accounting applications and eco-efficiency: case studies from Japan

This paper explores the links between environmental management accounting and measures of eco-efficiency in Japanese business. Environmental management accounting is a relatively new environmental management tool initially designed to trace and track environmental costs and physical environmental flows. In the paper, first, the recent development of environmental management accounting is considered; second, the links between environmental management accounting and eco-efficiency measurement are examined. Recent case studies in environmental management accounting from Japan are used as a basis for the analysis. It is concluded from the analysis that the practice of linking eco-efficiency measurement with environmental management accounting information is underutilised, diverse and in need of further promotion if EMA is to help Japanese business move production processes and consumption of its products towards sustainability.     

Environmental principles applicable to supply chains design and operation

In this paper we deal with the problem of identifying environmental principles for the design and operation of supply chains. The operations that are included in supply chains are briefly described along with the approaches that are applied in order to improve their environmental performance. A background of environmental principles for achieving eco-efficiency and building of environmentally friendly organizational systems is presented and emphasis is put on the application of such principles “from cradle to grave”. Then, environmental principles applicable to particular objects of logistics networks planning are identified and commented upon. In addition, selective case studies from the literature, which show the applicability of the formulated principles and their relevance to practice, are discussed. The paper concludes with some remarks regarding the benefits for companies and societies, in general, that occur as a result of the application of the formulated principles.     

国内外石油公司HSE绩效指标及安全绩效比对

分析了国外6家知名石油公司和协会的HSE绩效指标,并与国内3大石油公司HSE绩效指标进行比对,发现国外石油公司HSE绩效指标基本一致,其中损失工作日事件、可记录事件、交通事故等指标是目前多数国内企业没有统计的安全绩效指标;温室气体排放、火炬燃烧气体、可挥发烃(VOCs)排放、泄漏等指标是国内企业没有统计的环境绩效指标。对比分析了6家国外石油公司和协会的安全绩效水平和趋势。     

Incorporation of changes in habitat quantity and quality into density-dependent population models

The use of dynamic age-structured models is becoming more prevalent in environmental assessments. We review these models and discuss the application of density-dependent population models with varying intrinsic rate of increase (r) and carrying capacity (K). Application of these models is described in terms of the model selection process, evaluation of r and K and how they are influenced by habitat suitability, the calculation of habitat suitability indices, and the selection of competition type (scramble vs contest). A short example is given. We conclude that these models offer valuable insight into the understanding of population responses to environmental impacts and mitigation.     

Eco-efficiency in the SMEs of Venezuela. Current status and future perspectives

This paper presents a comparison analysis of eco-efficiency in the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) of Venezuela. The research can be divided into three parts: the first part reviews similar studies in the literature on the level of eco-efficiency exhibited by the companies of Venezuela and other countries. In the second place, the findings of a survey conducted on Venezuelan SMEs allowed the definition of 54 eco-efficiency profiles. Thirdly, six national experts in cleaner production and eco-efficiency were interviewed. The interview was based on a questionnaire similar to that used in the survey of the Venezuelan SMEs. At a second meeting, the experts were asked to discuss on the similarities and differences between their answers and those of the company's managers.The findings of the survey allow us to conclude that Venezuelan SMEs understand the legal environmental regulations that affect them but they do not perceive the influence of external driving forces like customers demand for green products or institutional incentives. The adoption of eco-efficiency practices is not perceived as an incentive to improve competitiveness so that the environmental strategies adopted generally aim at reducing costs or avoiding non-compliance sanctions and negative effects on the company image. Materials recycling and reuse, especially packaging materials, are common practices; however, other environmental tools or practices have not been implemented yet, e.g. environmental management systems (EMS), process, product and services design tools based on the product life cycle, renewable energy resources or green marketing. There are also differences among the eight industrial sectors analyzed, food and chemical industries having the higher index of eco-efficiency practices, and plastic and wood industries the lower.     

中国工业行业的生态效率

中国工业是资源消费和污染物排放的主要源头,解析工业各行业的生态效率可为中国产业结构调整和整体环境质量改善提供必要信息.在分析工业构成并构建工业系统与外部环境之间关系的基础上,选择能源消费和废水、固体废物、SO2、工业烟尘、粉尘等污染物的排放量作为研究的环境影响类别,界定了与这些环境影响相关的生态效率,估算了中国2007年的工业生态效率现状,结果为:能源效率615.5万元·ktce-1;废水和固废方面的生态效率分别为54.3万元·kt-1和1.9万元·t-1;工业SO2、烟尘和粉尘方面的生态效率分别为59.6、169.2和184.6万元·t-1.深入分析了39个工业部门的生态效率,结果表明,以上几种生态效率具有明显的行业不均衡性,表现为不同行业在不同类型生态效率中的工业排序明显不同;与此同时,对于同一种生态效率,不同工业行业的数值可相差几百倍到几万倍,表明通过优化工业结构将具有较大的提高工业生态效率的可能性.     

Cleaner production in Danish fish processing – experiences,status and possible future strategies

Danish fish processing industry has been one of the pioneers regarding implementation of cleaner production and environmental management systems. This article describes the experiences with cleaner production (CP) among leading Danish industries producing pickled herring and canned mackerel. The article emphasizes two case studies of ‘first mover’ companies, but data from other ‘proactive’ companies are also included.The article provides an overview of different types of CP solutions, improvement potentials, synergistic effects and possible trade-offs. The development of the applied solutions from the late 1980s until today are analysed and recommendations to future strategies at company level and policy level are provided.It is concluded that significant environmental improvements have been obtained for the analysed companies – especially concerning reductions in water consumption, wastewater emissions, and utilisation of fish ‘waste’ for valuable by-products. Still, more focus could be placed on the reduction of energy consumption, change of packaging types, and environmental impacts in other stages of the products life cycle.Authorities and companies have mainly focused on on-site reductions of wastewater emissions, but life cycle assessments show that more attention should be given to the reductions of environmental impacts in other parts of the product chain, e.g. fishing operations and transport as well.     

Eco-efficiency evaluation of iron rod industry in Nepal

This paper presents the eco-efficiency of energy intensity, material consumption, water use, waste generation, and CO₂ emission in terms of production value in net sales (US$) per environmental influence using empirical evaluation. Evaluation has been considered only within production process boundary of iron rod industry. Evaluation of eco-efficiency tried to couple the economic and environmental influences of industry to know economic and environmental excellence. Eco-efficiency of iron rod industry was quantitatively analyzed and determined that energy, material consumption, water use, waste generation, and CO₂ emission eco-efficiency have been increased gradually along with increased production during analysis period of five years (2001–2005). It was possible due to installing heat recovery unit along with innovative processes modification. While comparing each year's eco-efficiency of all above-mentioned parameters, eco-efficiencies were increased that indicates less resource use and less waste released. As a general statement of overall comparison and characterization of eco-efficiencies of five years duration, iron rod industry was eco-efficient in all aspects. Eco-efficiency being an emerging trend has not yet been implemented in Nepal. It is further recommended to adopt the eco-efficiency evaluation in other industries. In addition, it is high time to augment the provision of eco-efficiency concepts in industrial policy and legislation concerned.