An Analysis of Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production Strategies

This report delves into the concepts of cleaner production and eco-efficiency, emphasizing their significance in addressing environmental challenges. It begins with an introduction highlighting the detrimental effects of industrialization and the importance of sustainability. The report defines eco-efficiency as the practice of minimizing environmental impact while maximizing economic benefits, covering production processes, products, and services. It examines countries that have adopted eco-efficiency, focusing on the use of clean energy and environmental management. The report then discusses environmental issues, such as global warming, climate change, and their impacts. It explores steps taken to implement cleaner production, including eco-efficiency and sustainable consumption policies. Success stories like green roofing technologies are presented to illustrate the benefits of eco-friendly practices. Finally, the report addresses challenges and barriers to eco-efficiency, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject.

1
Cleaner production and eco-efficiency
Name:
Institution:
Course number and name:
Instructor’s name:
10th February 2020

2
Contents
1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................3
2. Eco-efficiency.....................................................................................................................................3
3. Profile of the selected countries practicing eco-efficiency...............................................................4
4. Description of the environmental issues...........................................................................................5
5. Steps undertaken to-date in implementing cleaner production.....................................................7
5.1 Eco-efficiency policies..........................................................................................................................7
5.2 Sustainable consumption policies.......................................................................................................8
6. Cleaner production success stories...................................................................................................8
6.1 Green roofing technologies.................................................................................................................8
7. Challenges and barriers to eco-efficiency........................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................................11

3
Cleaner production and eco-efficiency
1. Introduction
The world has come a long way regarding the development that we now witness.
However, we need to understand that there are certain dangers to the environment that we are
causing by our actions. For example, solar insolation has been studied and confirmed to be more
in the current world as opposed to centuries ago. Essentially, the days were less bright in the era
of the Roman Empire than today. These changes are due to the wearing out of the protective
Ozone layer. The industrialization has made our life easier but has also contributed in destroying
some parts of nature. Several countries have implemented sustainability measures. These
countries have decided to go green by effecting the necessary changes that would see them
release less waste to the environment. The greenhouse effect is being tackled by these countries
from all directions. From construction to lifestyle, the prevention of greenhouse emissions is
paramount to the sustainability on the planet. Many industrialize and governments have realized
the need to be mindful of the environment. Being mindful of the environment follows the
negative effects of our actions such as global warming and the melting of the ice caps. It is
essential to have methods that will improve the wellbeing of the planet.
2. Eco-efficiency
To begin with, eco-Efficiency begin from economic efficiency issues impacting the
environment positively to cleaner productions that utilize the environment efficiently. The
economic benefits of these actions are positive. Cleaner production is a concept that is centred on
the guidelines of UNEP given in the year 1989. Cleaner production is the way to go for
continuous application of integrated and preventive methods in conserving the environment. The
production processes should be made in a way that they increase the eco-efficiency and reduce

4
the negative impacts of human activities on the environment (Al-Zu’bi, & Mansour, 2017). Eco-
efficiency applies to many spheres of our lives such as the production processes, the products
and the services. The production processes include raw materials and the toxic raw that consume
energy (Al-Zu’bi, & Mansour, 2017). The production processes are in such a way that they limit
the toxicity through emissions of wastes and the overall quantities of the toxic substances. The
negative impacts of products on the environment are minimized through the life cycles of
products that have disposable e=raw materials. The services obtained from eco-efficiency
incorporate the environmental concerns that design and deliver them. For cleaner products to be
in the market, people first have to change their attitudes and start practising responsible living.
Managing conducive policies in the environment as well as evaluating technological options are
critical to eco-efficiency.
3. Profile of the selected countries practicing eco-efficiency
Several countries practice eco-efficiency. Many developing Asian countries are
benefitting from eco-efficiency practices and tourism. The economies of these countries are
reaping great benefits from responsible environmental practices. There are several hotels in the
Asian countries that have adopted eco-efficiency. The use of clean energy is becoming an
increasingly popular practice for these countries (Al-Zu’bi, & Mansour, 2017). There are
guidelines for safe environmental practices. These guidelines include the improvement of
management initiatives such as green energy and renewable energy activities. There are several
areas of priorities and they include self-audits and priority areas action areas. These action areas
include the release of effluents, solid waste, emissions, energy and water. The selection of
suppliers is also critical to the whole process of eco-efficiency. Environmental management is
fully integrated into the daily operations for the continuous monitoring of progress.

5
4. Description of the environmental issues
Global warming may be defined as the condition of excess carbon dioxide gas in the
atmosphere. The carbon dioxide forms a blanket that traps heat on the earth and prevents the loss
of the heat. Global warming just like climate change is a term that has been used for at least the
last quarter of the 20th century (Masson-Delmotte, et.al, 2018). The rises in temperature of the
earth have prompted to the issues being discussed deeply and as such a lot of politics has hence
resulted. The mean temperature of the earth has changed a lot which has had different adverse
effects on the world. Looking at the topic we find out that it is a very sensitive issue as some
countries feel that the developed countries which have heavy industries are misusing their
privilege and making the world an inhospitable place to be.
Other people think otherwise as the industrial revolution of the last three hundred years
has taken the world to a new level. Many of the popular press has reported an increasing
temperature level near the surface of the earth (Huang, Yu, Dai, Wei, & Kang, 2017). Moreover,
there has been melting of the polar ice and icebergs which have also been a major drawback
regarding the issue. Sea levels are believed to be changing just as the climate of the earth is
believed to be permanently affected by global warming (Singer, & Avery, 2007). Scientists and
researchers alike believe that global warming damages the environment. However, some other
people still debate the issue and think that it is a hoax.
The global warming phenomenon causes sea rise which sometimes causes floods in the
coastal regions. The floods are caused by the melting of ice caps in the Polar Regions which adds
more liquid water in the seas. The life that is in existence at the Polar Regions cannot survive
once this balance is disrupted. Lives of animals and human beings are both endangered with
global warming and its effects (Hughes, et.al, 2017). When the temperature balance is disrupted,

6
the result is a ripple effect at every corner of the earth with water being the most critical aspect of
nature being affected. High temperatures will lead to high evaporation and hence very high
rainfall and precipitation. These changes may cause heavy flooding and sometimes drying up of
water catchment areas. Abnormal weather and climate activities always result due to global
warming. This condition is known as climate change which is as a result of the alteration of the
climatic balance. Naturally, the climate should change once every 35 years but this is no longer
happening as something else is occurring. Politics and movements about global warming have
also resulted recently (Taft, 2017)).
It is further notable that the climate in the earth has changed significantly for the past
century. This has also coincided with the changes in the climatic conditions globally (Singer,
2016, February). The data and findings have also stayed in agreement that there is progressive
warming of the planet. The phenomenon of global warming is basically due to human activities
that disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. Majority of scientists in the past few years have been
tirelessly carrying out research all over the world to find out the things causing global warming.
The causes that they have come up with s so far include greenhouse gases, deforestation,
transport, industrialization, and other human activities (George, 2016). Greenhouse gases let out
by human beings through various means.
Overall, global warming is a serious menace to the earth and will soon damage life
severely. Hence proper care has to be taken regarding the issue of global warming as early as
possible. This is the main reason why environmentalists and governments have held conventions
to discuss the issue (George, 2016). Forecasting, if actions are not taken regarding the issue, the
earth will be a very horrible place to be by the year 2100. This tells us that our activities have
been damaging the environment. In this way, we have to start mindful practices of taking care of

7
the environment. Such processes include limiting the amounts of wastes being released in the
environment and using renewable energy sources.
5. Steps undertaken to-date in implementing cleaner production
5.1 Eco-efficiency policies
Policies regarding sustainable consumption have been implemented among the said Asian
countries. Sustainability in terms of both production and consumption is essential to both
business and the environment. The concept is a broad policy filed that has great potential to solve
many of the environmental and climatic issues. The same issues may affect people economically,
politically and socially. The churning of effluents to water bodies may create hazards that take
huge amounts of money to solve. Moreover, individuals who suffer from diseases associated
with dangerous practices may spend too much to get treatments. The food and agriculture
industries will also be hit with the carelessness regarding the environment (Cook, et.al, 2016).
This carelessness can lead to environmental issues that bring about an imbalance in the
resources. Different parts of the world have different interpretations of the environment
regarding conservation. However, following international events, people are coming to realize
that they must move in the same direction in matters concerning environmental conservation.
Hence, reaching common goals requires that the policies are made useful and desirable. The
environmental policies involve the use of logical structures to present and execute the
agreements on eco-efficiency. The main concept of eco-efficiency is referred to as the
sustainable consumption policy (SCP).

8
5.2 Sustainable consumption policies
The SCP framework is normally classified into three parts, the national policy
framework, the key life-cycle production stages, and the key production. The key national policy
framework provides the overall policy agenda. Hence, a country’s government determines what
should be done and what should not be done. All policies must involve a government to support
them for them to be developed and executed. Production and consumption have key life cycle
stages that determine their effectiveness. These stages cover the policy instruments through the
life-cycle for the products from the development, growth, maturity and decline. These stages
govern how a product exists from its design, development and the end where it is no longer in
use or achieving its purposes. The key product is also an essential component of the SCP. It is a
top-level idea that focusses on the strategies and action plans used in the economy. Some
indicators and targets determine the national framework in support of the SCP.
6. Cleaner production success stories
6.1 Green roofing technologies
There are also other ideas such as green roofing technologies that helps to consume less
natural resources and conserve the environment. These technologies are used in the said
developing Asian countries. A building’s sustainability is intricately tied to the shape of its roof.
The environment around the building is also mostly dependent on the design of the roof. Thus,
having a roof’s upper layer facing the sky is critical to the installation of the green roofing
technology. The materials used in the construction of shelters determine the general aesthetic and
textural appearance of a building. The green vegetation on rooftops gives the sense of a serene
environment (Korol, Shushunova, & Shushunova, 2018). The temperature can also be lowered
naturally using the green roofing technology as the vegetation can act as an air conditioner. On

9
the other hand, buildings built with brightly coloured rooftops experience less heat as the
sunlight is reflected away. These bright surfaces are poor absorbers of energy, such as heat, and
are more efficient in areas that need cooling. Contrary to this, buildings located in colder regions
require dark-coloured rooftops to help in trapping the heat energy. The green technology
supplements the lack of ecosystem in urban sectors (Korol, & Shushunova, 2018). Green roofs
can also improve the management of stormwater while limiting the urban heat-island effect. The
presence of green roofing increases wildlife habitat. Hence, humans and wildlife can coexist in
the same environment without hurting each other. Moreover, sustainable buildings are easily
constructed and closely tied to the shape of their rooftops.
7. Challenges and barriers to eco-efficiency
The requirements of the green roofing technology include large and easily accessible
roofs in cities. The climatic conditions of a place will also determine whether the technology can
be implemented or not. Some areas require little effort in terms of the necessary resources to
install green roofing technology. These requirements are based on the environmental conditions,
the development level of the places, and the number of resources allocated. Green roofing
technology is the future of urban sustainability as the modern urban setups lack enough
vegetation, which can limit the challenges obtained by fewer resources. Eco-efficiency policies
are also expensive to implement. The costs of a sustainable building is higher than a
conventional building. There also other world leaders who think that issues such as global
warming and climate change are hoaxes.

10
8. Conclusion
In conclusion, cleaner production is a big factor in eco-efficiency across the world.
Cleaner production also includes green roofing which has been found to improve the
sustainability of an urban setup. The implementation of green roofing technology can
successfully address the flow of energy in buildings (Cascone, 2019). The physical damages
resulting from solar radiation can be successfully dealt with through the installation of green roof
systems. Hence, the roofs can be more sustainable due to the presence of green vegetation on
top. Issues such as the heat-island effect can be successfully dealt with by the installation of
green roofing technologies. Wildlife habitats are improved by the presence of green roofing
technologies since humans and wildlife can coexist in large urbanized areas. It has also been
found that careless human activities are depleting natural resources such as clean water and air.
Such actions pose considerable risks to the wellbeing of urbanizing areas. Hence, if fully
implemented the green roofing technology can change the world significantly in terms of
sustainability.

11
References
Al-Zu’bi, M., & Mansour, O. (2017). Water, energy, and rooftops: integrating green roof
systems into building policies in the Arab region. Environment and Natural Resources
Research, 7(2), 11-36. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maha_Al-
Zubi/publication/314497533_Water_Energy_and_Rooftops_Integrating_Green_Roof_S
ystems_into_Building_Policies_in_the_Arab_Region/links/
58c2c55daca272e36dd0109f/Water-Energy-and-Rooftops-Integrating-Green-Roof-
Systems-into-Building-Policies-in-the-Arab-Region.pdf
Baniassadi, A., Heusinger, J., & Sailor, D. J. (2018). Building energy savings potential of a
hybrid roofing system involving high albedo, moisture retaining foam materials. Energy
and Buildings, 169, 283-294. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amir_Baniassadi3/publication/
324270436_Building_Energy_Savings_Potential_of_a_Hybrid_Roofing_System_Involv
ing_High_Albedo_Moisture_Retaining_Foam_Materials/links/
5aca4b940f7e9bcd5198ac81/Building-Energy-Savings-Potential-of-a-Hybrid-Roofing-
System-Involving-High-Albedo-Moisture-Retaining-Foam-Materials.pdf
Cascone, S. (2019). Green roof design: state of the art on technology and materials.
Sustainability, 11(11), 3020. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-
1050/11/11/3020/pdf
Cook, J., Oreskes, N., Doran, P. T., Anderegg, W. R., Verheggen, B., Maibach, E. W., ... &
Nuccitelli, D. (2016). Consensus on consensus: a synthesis of consensus estimates on
human-caused global warming. Environmental Research Letters, 11(4), 048002.

12
George, W. (2016). Media Influence on Opinion about Man-Made Global Warming as
Moderated by Individual Ecological Orientation and Personal Experience. Atlantic
Marketing Journal, 5(2), 1.
Huang, J., Yu, H., Dai, A., Wei, Y., & Kang, L. (2017). Drylands face potential threat under 2 C
global warming target. Nature Climate Change, 7(6), 417-422.
Hughes, T. P., Kerry, J. T., Álvarez-Noriega, M., Álvarez-Romero, J. G., Anderson, K. D.,
Baird, A. H., ... & Bridge, T. C. (2017). Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching
of corals. Nature, 543(7645), 373-377.
Korol, S., Shushunova, N., & Shushunova, T. (2018). Innovation technologies in Green Roof
systems. In MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol. 193, p. 04009). EDP Sciences. Retrieved
from:
https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2018/52/matecconf_esci2018
_04009.pdf
Korol, E., & Shushunova, N. (2018). Modular green roofs in urban ecospace. In Landscape
Architecture-The Sense of Places, Models and Applications. IntechOpen. Retrieved
from: https://www.intechopen.com/download/pdf/59922
Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pörtner, H. O., Roberts, D., Skea, J., Shukla, P. R., ... & Connors,
S. (2018). Global warming of 1.5 C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global
warming of, 1.
Singer, S. F. (2016, February). Countering Ice Ages: Re-directing Public Concern from Global
Warming (GW) to Global Cooling (GC). In American Geophysical Union, Ocean
Sciences Meeting 2016, abstract# HI14A-1761.