Worldwide, our environment changes dramatically. It has become obvious that the entire life cycle of resources induces high environmental burdens. Economic growth in emerging nations as well as the still high demand for resources in industrial countries increase pressure on our natural environment. For a sustainable future, we need to combine high-quality wealth with reduced environmental impacts.

Eco-innovations point at the chances that lie in this challenge, for all economies. Since its establishment, the Wuppertal Institute has done intensive research regarding these chances. It has developed concepts like "Factor Four" (Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker), "Factor Ten" (Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek) and "Energy Efficiency Revolution" (Peter Hennicke). The focus lies on increasing resource productivity, i.e. minimising the input of natural resources while enhancing the economic output and well-being. For measuring and evaluating material intensity, appropriate concepts have been developed. Our research projects examine the thesis that these eco-innovations can be established as lead markets of the future and increase competitiveness in spite of many constraints.

Eco-innovations and the key strategy of increasing resource productivity follow the vision of an economy embedded in natural ecosystems and material flows with minimal resource use that does not develop at the expense of other regions. One objective to operationalise this vision is the decoupling of economic growth and resource use. The foundation of the UNEP International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, of which Stefan Bringezu is a member, underlines the great relevance of this subject for a sustainable development.

Topic Online "Eco-Innovations" presents cutting-edge and fascinating best practices which are available for download. They can be technical, institutional, organisational or social and illustrate the necessary systemic change. At the same time, problems and restraints that constrain these markets of the future are shown and political recommendations are given.