NSF International announced in a recent press statement a new eco-efficiency protocol, NSF Protocol 352 (NSF P352), for the validation and verification of eco-efficiency analyses. Chemical company BASF is the first to have its Eco-Efficiency Analysis (EEA) methodology used to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of products or processes validated by NSF, an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to improving and protecting public health and the environment.

Eco-efficiency means creating more goods and services while consuming fewer resources and generating less waste and pollution (source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development Web site). NSF P352 establishes requirements for the content of an eco-efficiency analysis to ensure consistency, objectivity and transparency in all eco-efficiency analyses, which is necessary given the influx of greenwashing. In BASF’s case, it also provides a means for verification of BASF’s individual EEA study results adhering to the eco-efficiency methodology.

NSF P352 was developed, reviewed and approved by a diverse group of stakeholders from academia, industry and consumer product companies to fulfill the need for an objective and universal method for companies to analyze the sustainability of their products and services. BASF’s product stewardship team initiated the development of NSF P352, working in cooperation with NSF International and these other independent organizations, by which BASF’s EEA methodology was validated.

For more information on eco-efficiency analysis or the new NSF protocol, please contact Patrick Davison, NSF Senior Project Manager, at 734-913-5719 or davison@nsf.org or visit http://www.nsf.org/business/eco_efficiency/index.asp.