Editing Eco-efficiency (section)

==Terminology==
As countries and regions around the world began to [[Economic development|develop]], it slowly became evident that [[industrialization]] and [[economic growth]] come hand in hand with [[environmental degradation]].<ref name= huppes/> "Eco-efficiency" has been proposed as one of the main tools to promote a transformation from unsustainable development to one of [[sustainable development]].<ref name= yadong/> It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating [[waste reduction|less waste]] and [[pollution]]. "It is measured as the ratio between the (added) value of what has been produced (e.g. GDP) and the (added) environment impacts of the product or service (e.g. CO<sub>2</sub> emissions)."<ref name= yadong /> The term was coined by the [[World Business Council for Sustainable Development]] (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication "Changing Course". At the 1992 [[Earth Summit]], eco-efficiency was endorsed as a new business concept and means for companies to implement [[Agenda 21]] in the private sector.<ref name= oecd/> The term has now become synonymous with a management philosophy geared towards [[sustainability]], combining [[ecological]] and [[economic efficiency]].<ref name= oecd />