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Editorial
Beyond eco-efficiency: a resilience perspective
Article first published online: 22 OCT 2008
DOI: 10.1002/bse.635
Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment
Issue
1099-0836/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=684f199c2419e4d1c2f1d662c39d1216b8131829 "Business Strategy and the Environment")
Business Strategy and the Environment
Special Issue: Strategic Sustainability Management
Volume 17, Issue 7, pages 411–419, November 2008
Additional Information
How to Cite
Korhonen, J. and Seager, T. P. (2008), Beyond eco-efficiency: a resilience perspective. Bus. Strat. Env., 17: 411–419. doi: 10.1002/bse.635
Publication History
- Issue published online: 22 OCT 2008
- Article first published online: 22 OCT 2008
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- eco-efficiency;
- strategic sustainable development;
- resilience
Abstract
Business strategy with regard to sustainability is currently dominated by an eco-efficiency approach that seeks to simultaneously reduce costs and environmental impacts using tactics such as waste minimization or reuse, pollution prevention or technological improvement. However, in practice, eco-efficiency optimization rarely results in improved diversity or adaptability and consequently may have perverse consequences to sustainability by eroding the resilience of production systems. This editorial article contrasts a resilience approach with an eco-efficiency approach as they relate to strategic sustainable development. In some cases, the system attributes that are critically important to resilience – such as spare capacity, reserve resource stocks and redundancy – are in opposition to eco-efficiency. Our most important insight is the realization that investments in what may seem counter to eco-efficiency can nonetheless be important for sustainability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.