title: Eco-Efficiency Analysis of biotechnological processes.
abstract: Eco-Efficiency has been variously defined and analytically implemented by several workers. In most cases, Eco-Efficiency is taken to mean the ecological optimization of overall systems while not disregarding economic factors. Eco-Efficiency should increase the positive ecological performance of a commercial company in relation to economic value creation--or to reduce negative effects. Several companies use Eco-Efficiency Analysis for decision-making processes; and industrial examples of best practices in developing and implementing Eco-Efficiency have been reviewed. They clearly demonstrate the environmental and business benefits of Eco-Efficiency. An instrument for the early recognition and systematic detection of economic and environmental opportunities and risks for production processes in the chemical industry began use in 1997, since when different new features have been developed, leading to many examples. This powerful Eco-Efficiency Analysis allows a feasibility evaluation of existing and future business activities and is applied by BASF. In many cases, decision-makers are able to choose among alternative processes for making a product.
authors.affiliation: BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, 67056, Germany. peter.saling@basf-ag.de
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saling
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics*; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000191:economics*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D004738:Engineering / Q000639:trends; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013597:Systems Analysis