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Eco‐efficiency and dematerialization: Scenarios for new industrial logics in recycling industries, automobile and household appliances

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  • Peter Dobers
  • Rolf Wolff

Abstract

The environmental field has been continuously overloaded with new concepts in the area of environmental impact such as environmental space, ecological backpack, carrying capacity, ecological footprint, dematerialization and eco‐efficiency. The latter two concepts have a particular relevance to corporate environmental management. This article discusses the concepts of dematerialization and eco‐efficiency with respect to their implications for industry logics. It is based on a project that was initiated by the Swedish EPA. Within the project we used the scenario technique to explore the future industry logics of recycling industries related to the automobile industry and household appliances. One scenario, ‘business as usual’, indicates a focus on products with incremental improvements and a stepwise departure from today's practices. The other scenario, ‘dematerialization’, indicates a focus on functions and needs, and a significant departure from today's practices. Concluding from the empirical analysis of present industry logics, based on interviews and data analysis in specific industries, we realized that changes in industry logics and business systems are inevitable, if industry takes a responsibility for the whole life cycle seriously. Accordingly, we propose the transformation of business systems as a research agenda for the future. Such an agenda follows ecologically motivated transformation and translation processes throughout the whole system of actor networks and action nets of society and creates an enhanced understanding of the emerging processes of corporate environmental management. It also considers different institutional arrangements between those actors that constitute the system as a whole. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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  • Peter Dobers & Rolf Wolff, 1999. "Eco‐efficiency and dematerialization: Scenarios for new industrial logics in recycling industries, automobile and household appliances," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(1), pages 31-45, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:8:y:1999:i:1:p:31-45
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0836(199901/02)8:13.0.CO;2-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rolf Wolff, 1998. "Beyond environmental management—Perspectives on environmental and management research," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(5), pages 297-308, November.
    2. R. J. Welford, 1998. "Editorial: Corporate environmental management, technology and sustainable development: postmodern perspectives and the need for a critical research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, February.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bauwens, Thomas & Hekkert, Marko & Kirchherr, Julian, 2020. "Circular futures: What Will They Look Like?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    3. Marileena Koskela & Jarmo Vehmas, 2012. "Defining Eco‐efficiency: A Case Study on the Finnish Forest Industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(8), pages 546-566, December.
    4. Peter Dobers & Lars Strannegård, 2005. "Design, lifestyles and sustainability. Aesthetic consumption in a world of abundance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 324-336, September.
    5. J. Emil Morhardt & Sarah Baird & Kelly Freeman, 2002. "Scoring corporate environmental and sustainability reports using GRI 2000, ISO 14031 and other criteria," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 9(4), pages 215-233, December.
    6. Mark Smith & Jo Crotty, 2008. "Environmental regulation and innovation driving ecological design in the UK automotive industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(6), pages 341-349, September.
    7. Gössling, Stefan & Peeters, Paul & Ceron, Jean-Paul & Dubois, Ghislain & Patterson, Trista & Richardson, Robert B., 2005. "The eco-efficiency of tourism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(4), pages 417-434, September.
    8. Peter Dobers & Rolf Wolff, 2000. "Competing with ‘soft’ issues – from managing the environment to sustainable business strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(3), pages 143-150, May.
    9. Ingrid Kajzer Mitchell & Michael Saren, 2008. "The living product – using the creative nature of metaphors in the search for sustainable marketing," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(6), pages 398-410, September.

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