DIFFERENT ECO EFFICIENCY INDICATORS
Ecological Footprint describes how much land and water, food, raw materials a human being needs in addition to how much energy is produced from waste processing.
Carbon footprint can be reduced by:
-By eating vegetarian or vegetarian processed food: meat production consumes more energy and resources than the production of plant products
-Substituting beef with poultry meat: cattle produce a lot of atmosphere-warming greenhouse gas, methane,e.t.c
-Maximizing the use of local food produce and local food
-The purchase of long-lasting products, or products with recyclable packages which minimize the amount of waste
-Sorting and recycling of waste
- Untreated organic waste in landfills causes methane emissions. Composting bio-waste can mold the raw materials in soil and improve the soil
- By recycling glass, metal, cardboard, paper, electrical appliances, clothing, construction waste, and other materials e.g. reusing them, saves natural resources and energy
Energy waste (e.g., plastic) are separately collected waste, which cannot be recycled material, but rather be utilized for energy production.
Hazardous waste or problematic waste sorting prevents toxic substances into landfills or the environment
-Spread the benefit to the public
-Save energy
The ecological rucksack is a concept that says in kilograms or tonnes, the amount of natural resources, that products’ manufacturing, consumption and disposal emits. The concept is based on the German Wuppertal Institute to develop a method for the MIPS (Material Input Per Service Unit that is produced in the material input per service)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyzes the environmental impact of the entire product life-cycle in a cradle-to-grave basis, i.e. raw material procurement, manufacturing, use and waste management.
The official eco-labels give the products’ environmental life-cycle. Originally, it was developed to explain the life cycle assessment of the environmental differences between the products. Nowadays, the method is also used as an aid for suppliers, industry and services development, environmental assessments investments, information and marketing.
Measures:
Additional information:
Local Nature-Based Tourism is sustainable and impacts less to environment
Photo: Eevi Kohio
Eco efficient hints for travellers and tourism companies
-Information and good practices
-Biosphere Reserve newsletter 2013