resourceefficiency

Resource efficiency refers to using resources—such as energy, materials, water and land—more productively to achieve the same or greater economic value with less environmental impact. It is a core idea in sustainable development and the circular economy, aiming to decouple economic growth from rising material throughput.

Key principles include reducing input requirements for a given output, extending product lifetimes, enabling maintenance and repair, and promoting reuse, remanufacturing and recycling. Substituting scarce or high-impact resources with alternatives where feasible also contributes to overall efficiency.

Measurement of resource efficiency relies on indicators such as energy intensity (energy per unit of economic output), material intensity (materials per unit of output), and resource productivity (economic output per unit of resource use). Life cycle thinking and footprint analyses help assess broader environmental effects, including water and land use.

Strategies to improve resource efficiency include process optimization, energy and water-saving technologies, design for durability and modularity, and circular business models that emphasize reuse and recycling. Policy tools often encompass efficiency standards, incentives for adopting efficient technologies, information programs, and economic instruments such as waste taxes or resource pricing to shift behavior.

Applications span manufacturing, construction, information technology, and services. Benefits typically include lower operating costs, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, greater energy security, and decreased pressure on natural ecosystems. Challenges can involve upfront investments, split incentives between buyers and users, rebound effects that offset gains, and data gaps in monitoring and reporting. Global progress varies, with many regions integrating resource efficiency into climate, growth and innovation strategies.