Using resources efficiently and sparingly
Our economy is heavily dependent on natural resources. Past and present patterns of resource use have led to a high level of environmental pollution, environmental damage and, in some cases, the depletion of natural resources. Using resources efficiently and sparingly is therefore an important goal of national and international environmental and economic policy.
Using resources efficiently and sparingly is not only necessary and sensible for economic, overarching reasons. There are many entrepreneurial motives and starting points, such as cost-saving motives, reducing dependence on raw materials, securing and increasing competitiveness, requirements in the supply chain (Supply Chain Act), or the desire to make a corporate contribution to climate protection.
Guideline VDI 4800 Sheet 1 „Resource efficiency and conservation; methodological principles, principles and strategies“ provides a methodological framework for assessing the resource efficiency of products, services, product-service systems and organizations.
However, increased resource efficiency does not necessarily lead to an absolute reduction in the use of resources; this can only be achieved by conserving resources. This relationship is explained and illustrated in detail in the new white print of VDI 4800 Sheet 1. Both strategies - resource efficiency and resource conservation - are considered and methodically classified. With both strategies, care must be taken to ensure that planned or implemented measures do not lead to undesirable use of resources in upstream or downstream processes or outside the system under consideration, but that these are taken into account and included.
The VDI guideline contains 48 examples and an interactive decision aid that can be used via the download area.
The VDI 4800 Sheet 1 has been with DIN Media available.
