Resources to support Chapter 9

Sharing Nature's Interest

Nicky Chambers * Craig Simmons * Mathis Wackernagel

ecologicalfootprint.com home page

1. Redefining Progress
2. Indicating Progress
3. Footprinting Foundations
4. Footprinting Fundamentals
5. From Activities to Impacts
6. 20 Questions about Footprinting
7. Global  and National Footprints
8. Regional Footprinting
9. The Impacts of Organizations & Services
10. Footprinting for Product Assessment
11. Footprinting Lifestyles
12. Next Steps

Chapter 9:Links & Resources

Island State: An ecological footprint analysis of the Isle of Wight
download report

mail the authors with your own suggested useful links for Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Summary

There are sound reasons why an organization, whether it is a private company, public or voluntary body, would wish to reduce their impact on the environment and become more ‘eco-efficient’. As the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) points out, ‘Eco-efficiency can help create value for the company and society as a whole by explicitly promoting change toward sustainable growth. This emphasis on creating and adding value is clearly to society’s benefit’.

The carrot of increased resource efficiency and its associated financial benefits, as well as company image and the push of legislation is causing organizations to seek ways to measure their eco-efficiency.

While the WBCSD also defines eco-efficiency as ‘…progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle, to a level at least in line with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity’ as yet it provides no framework to assess this. Ecological footprinting, with its feet squarely planted in carrying capacity, has considerable potential to provide this framework.

This chapter provides case studies of several organisations; a water utility, university and a school.