Factor X

1. Proposals for Implementation

   1. From Resource Efficiency to Responsible and Dematerialized Societies

      • Matthias Koller, Jens Günther

      Pages 283-298

   2. About the Need of Resource Efficiency Programs: The Editors’ View

      • Michael Angrick, Andreas Burger, Harry Lehmann

      Pages 299-301

2. Back Matter

   Pages 303-311

   PDF

The editors of Factor X explore and analyze this trajectory, predicting scarcities of non-renewable materials such as metals, limited availability of ecological capacities and shortages arising from geographic concentrations of materials. They argue that what is needed is a radical change in the ways we use nature’s resources to produce goods and services and generate well-being. The goal of saving our ecosystem demands a prompt and decisive reduction of man-induced material flows. Before 2050, they assert, we must achieve a significant decrease in consumption of resources, in the line with the idea of a factor 10 reduction target. EU-wide and country specific targets must be set, and enforced using strict, accurate measurement of consumption of materials. Their arguments are drawn from empirical evidence and observations, as well as theoretical considerations based on economic modeling and on natural science.

• Factor X
• Resource Efficiency
• Sustainable Resource Use
• dematerialisation
• sustainable land use

• Sustainable Production and Products Recycling Management, The Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

  Michael Angrick

• Economic and Social Environmental Issues Sustainable Consumption, The Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

  Andreas Burger

• Environmental Planning and Sustainability Strategies, The Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

  Harry Lehmann

Policies and ethics