FACTOR FOUR - appraisal

Appraisal of FACTOR FOUR best practices

The Wuppertal Institute communicates new FACTOR FOUR best practices. This choice requires an assessment concept and raises the question on what distinguishes FACTOR FOUR from usual improvements. Is there really a factor "four" or "only" a factor "three point five"?
How is any halving of resource use to be figured out? How can any doubling of wealth be appraised?

In close consultations with experts, the Wuppertal Institute has developed an indicator system to identify FACTOR FOUR best practices. The chosen indicators describe simply and fairly precise the essential ecologic, economic and social effects. The number of indicators is limited to ten in order to ensure transparency and clearness. Five indicators are quantitatively well measurable, further five indicators are of qualitative nature. The environmental indicator "material input per service unit" (MIPS), developed at the Wuppertal Institute, is an essential part of the quantitative indicators. The indicators are core of the registration sheet for new best practices. The indicator system is suitable for eco-efficient products, services, processes, networks and more complex systems. Currently, it is used and applied to certain "events for sustainability", a project financed by German Federal Ministry of Research.
A FACTOR FOUR cannot only be achieved by one spectacular single technology, but rather by sequential combinations of steps. Based on our understanding of integrated assessments, technical innovation as well as institutional, organizational, and social improvements are included, provided they contribute to the purpose of Factor Four.
Thus the "radar" of FACTOR FOUR comprises

• Single products and cooperation processes of multiple players,
• Energy, material and other environmental indicators,
• Divers sectors, like housing, living, agriculture, food etc.

The eco-efficient solutions are to be real innovation and should demonstrate a certain "kick". The research group has decided that all best practices have to prove a halving of at least one (better two) quantitative indicators. The other indicators ought to show improvements, at least not considerably degrading the result.

Outstanding innovations are marked with an exclamation point:

The opportunity of combining environmental relief shall point at "ecological win-win-opportunities". The comparison is drawn with a usual product ("state of the art") respectively compared with a product or a service providing an equal use. Wholly new products, services or processes are difficult to compare. In these cases the compared product is explicitly named, if possible. Furthermore, the additional benefit for customer is qualitatively described. Considerable risks shall be eliminated on the basis of current knowledge. Therefore the manufacturers are to provide corresponding information for being accepted on the Internet site.

The improvement of wealth is evaluated by comparative advantage on markets and derived direct effects like quality of life and health. This conventional criterion is important for potential imitators.

All information is delivered by the manufacturer/supplier. They are added by own short enquiries. The research group checks the plausibility and reserves its right of rejecting examples. A closer revision of the manufacturer's information is not foreseen. The Internet site aims at communication not at control. This procedure opens the floor for external consultants.

Our site refers to obstacles and drawbacks of each FACTOR FOUR best practice. The simple background: Each new idea has its "teething troubles". FACTOR FOUR best practices are new and exciting, but not yet perfect. Successful innovations are furthermore characterized by overcoming existing problems and obstacles, being part of a living learning process.

Each example contains information of selected suppliers (which are not complete!), links to relevant websites as well as literature in order to facilitate the communication.

The activity's mid term aim is an international network of Internet portals of several institutions. The research group intends to maintain and expand its radar for eco-pioneers. Cooperation is welcome!