The Eco‐efficiency of Lead in China's Lead‐Acid Battery System

Improving eco‐efficiency can contribute to sustainable development. This article defines the societal services and environmental impacts of the lead‐acid battery (LAB) system and offers definitions of eco‐efficiency, resource efficiency, and environmental efficiency in the context of LAB systems. Based on the actual lead‐flow in the LAB system, we develop a model that considers changes in production, the time interval between production and disposal, direct linkages between the final product and the societal service it provides, and the fiscal year as the statistical period. From this model, equations for eco‐efficiency are derived and changes in eco‐efficiency are predicted.