Finland wants a more eco-efficient Europe

The Finnish presidency of the EU is worried that talks about eco-efficiency in the European Union ignore the efficient use of raw materials.

An informal meeting of environment ministers this Saturday (15 July) will see Finland try to persuade member states that conserving natural resources, from wood to water, is just as important as conserving energy.

"The eco-efficiency debate in Europe is mainly about energy," said Taina Nikula of the Finnish environment ministry. "We want to put people's eyes on the natural resources question as well."

The informal talks aim to make governments look at the big picture for all environmental problems. "One of the most important issues for us is expanding the definition of eco-efficiency," said Nikula. "Energy is of course a key issue here but we should also discuss the broader implications."

A discussion paper on a common EU energy policy, published in March, stresses the importance of developing more efficient energy-using products, in order to reduce energy consumption. An energy efficiency action plan is expected in September.

But the efficient use of basic raw materials is treated separately, in a strategy from the European Commission environment department.

Kevin Bradley of ACE, the carton producers' alliance, said that energy efficiency and resource efficiency were two sides of the same coin and should be viewed as such.

"The Green Paper focuses on energy efficiency, but it is quite important we don't forget the resource efficiency aspects. The two go together," Bradley said.

"We can't just keep producing; we also have to dampen down resource demand in order to reduce energy use."

Considering the Green Paper on energy and the resources strategy separately risks policy clashes in the future, Bradley suggested.

He said that the Commission's high-level group on energy should also look into the resource efficiency question.

But a Commission energy department spokesman said that treating resource efficiency and energy efficiency in different documents would not lead to future problems. "There is a lot of co-ordination in the Commission, that is why it is a College. Any environment concerns will come up during consultation between the departments," the spokesman said.

The Finnish presidency of the EU is worried that talks about eco-efficiency in the European Union ignore the efficient use of raw materials.