Environment - CO2 Issue Zero and Eco Efficiency - A Study by Artur Victoria

In 1994 as part of the Program on Eco-Restructuring for Sustainable Development of the Institute of Advanced Studies, the Initiative for Research on Zero Emission was launched United Nations University .

The "Zero" came in as a result of the convergence of three streams of thought that dominated the world scene in the last 60 years: a developing program, focused on economic growth and expansion of industrial production; the social, experiments for the human well-being either individual and collective and ecological, defending the natural systems and quality of the environment.

The Stockholm and the Rio-92 conferences, consolidated the "Zero" with the crystallization of the ideals of sustainable development, proclaimed at those meetings and the search for the appropriate strategies to promote it.

The "Zero" proclaims a change of paradigms in all economic activities, especially of the industrial processes of production.

It incorporates the principles and strategies of environmental quality as a basis for promoting a new type of sustainable development. "Zero" acquired a distinct mark as a visionary and innovative proposal. It reflected the pragmatic business. Its concept is still evolving the applicability to the management of a sustainable development demonstrated by companies that adopt the strategies of the proposals.

Using the knowledge of biological cycles, which mainly consider all types of life existing on the planet, the concept "Zero" seeks the harmonization of the economic activities with knowledge, generating life progress and quality, satisfying the present needs, without compromising the chances of good environmental conditions for future generations.

The concept "Zero "considers that the ecological and social sustainability are closely linked. The development of a total quality can be interpreted by the implementation of "Zero", with the use of raw materials and zero waste. This quality reflects promising changes to a continuous environmental improvement.
The premise for the deployment of "Zero" is the change of paradigms, the perception of how to deal with complex problems. The path to be traveled now requires plan economic growth, environmental quality and social development, which is summarized in the concept of sustainable development.

The "Zero" project also has the prerogative to change the paradigms for a clean technology. To diagnose environmental problems and solutions is to raise environmental awareness. This, once again, is reflected in people who must be prepared for alternatives.
Therefore, the process of sustainability Zero Emission also depends on the awareness and determination to mobilize in attitudes environmentally healthy.

As understanding of eco-efficiency is a philosophy that seeks to encourage economic growth making industry to achieve environmental improvements. It is proposed the innovation and therefore growth and competitiveness.

Eco-efficiency is reached through the provision of goods and services at competitive prices, satisfying human needs and contributing to the quality of life, and gradually reduces the ecological impact and intensity of use of resources throughout the life cycle, to reach a level that at least meets the capacity to sustain estimated for the planet Earth.

Briefly it is creating more value with less impact. - Eco-efficiency is not simply limited to encourage efficiency improvements in existing practices and habits, but looks for creativity and innovation in the search for new forms of action.

The efficiency of this process must be achieved by integrating the three pillars of sustainability, economy, ecology and social progress. It's the true meaning of eco-efficiency for sustainability the companies to be rewarded with profit.

Eco-efficiency is focused on three objectives:

a) Reducing consumption of resources: includes minimizing energy use, materials, water and soil, promoting the recycling and durability of the product.

b) Reducing the impact on nature: includes the minimization of emissions, liquid, waste disposal and dispersion of toxic substances and boost the sustainable use of renewable resources.

c) Improving the value of the product or service: what it means to provide more benefits to customers through the functionality, flexibility and modularity of the product, providing additional services and focusing on selling on needs

Sustainability is correctly identified and can be found in the following four areas:

1) The engineering of processes to reduce resources, pollution, avoid risks, and save costs,

2) The upgrading of sub-products in a creative way in cooperation with companies,

3) Design new products, meeting customers' needs,

4) Reaching other markets reshaping the demand and supply.

The opportunities of eco-efficiency are not limited to large and international companies. Small and medium enterprises and micro-businesses can also benefit from eco-efficient solutions.

Improve eco-efficiency does not automatically lead to sustainability. The business world cannot achieve alone the eco-efficiency, because it requires close cooperation between the various companies.

The governments rule is an important factor to create these conditions.

- It can implement a policy that foster economic growth and encourage the reduction of resource use and prevent pollution with incentives for eco-innovation.

- It can use various incentives to support initiatives for the advancement of eco-efficiency - rewarding business-leaders.

The existence of sustainability through eco-efficiency is also necessary for the transformation of the consumer society. The premise is the implementation of the new way of thinking which must consider all factors involved directly or indirectly from the activities that lead to the development.