Towards a Resource Efficiency Index of Nations

Resource efficiency refers to the sustainable use of the Earth’s limited resources. It allows for the optimization of productivity and value while minimizing input and wastage. Ranking countries and businesses in this regard will induce stakeholders to take action in order to increase natural resources efficiency, productivity or sufficiency. In view of this, the WRF wishes to develop resource efficiency indices for countries and businesses. The objectives of the foreseen indices are: 1) The indices will become a thermometer of the state of the planet, raise awareness about the need for taking action and inspire people in order to increase natural resource efficiency, productivity or sufficiency. 2) The indices highlight the most natural resource efficient, productive or sufficient businesses and countries as well as the ones that are doing the most and provide an incentive for others to adopt effective measures and instruments. 3) The indices need to be easily understood and communicated, to be credible and to be innovative. In this report, the first steps towards the creation of a WRF Index for nations are presented.