Eco-efficiency of construction minerals in Lithuania

Abstract

Eco-efficiency is one of sustainable development indicators and it is one of the main priorities in Lithuanian sustainable development strategy […]: minimization of material and energy intensity of the offered service, an increase of the use value of products and the resulting service. The term “eco-efficiency” comprises the two areas: “ecology” and “economy” […]. The “eco-efficiency” means increasing value of efficiency while using fewer resources with less environmental impact. Therefore, eco-efficiency strategies and concepts maximize the economic value of product and at the same time they minimize materials and energy consumption intensity and minimize negative environmental impact […]. A situation as such according to R.Ketelhud and A. Riviere […] can be called a "win-win" situation. So, nowadays the eco-efficiency is the most desirable environmental and economical necessity […]. Lithuanian natural resources are poor in ore and fossil fuels, like oil. Therefore, the main resources are construction minerals. In 2006, in Lithuania five kinds of the construction minerals were exploited: limestone, dolomite, clay, gravel and sand […]. Most of these resources are used in construction sector. Thus, in this work we will evaluate the eco-efficiency of main Lithuanian resource - construction minerals during the period from 1996 till 2006. [...]