Quantification of the Benefits of Resource Efficiency to the New Zealand Economy

The Ministry for the Environment’s resource efficiency policy work looks at how to foster improved productivity while reducing the negative environmental impacts of producing and consuming goods and services.

To be able to effectively target policy in this area, the Ministry is building an evidence base on resource use and efficiency.

Following on from the Resource Efficiency in New Zealand project, the Ministry engaged independent consultants ERM New Zealand Ltd, together with Lincoln University’s Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit and AgriLINK New Zealand Ltd to develop and test a way of quantifying the benefits of resource efficiency to the New Zealand economy.

To do this, the study looked at:

  • water use
  • material use
  • waste production
  • greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

in the following sectors and sub-sectors:

  • Agriculture:
    • fruit and tree nut growing; and
    • dairy cattle farming
  • Food and beverage manufacturing:
    • bakery product manufacturing; and
    • wine and other alcoholic beverage manufacturing
  • Construction:
    • residential building construction; and
    • non-residential building construction.

For more information on the Resource Efficiency in New Zealand project, please see:

 

Updated December 2010