The issue of eco - efficiency has gained particular importance in economic theories relating tosustainable development. The acceptance of the sustainable development definition stipulated in the BrundtlandReport (Our Common Future) in 1986 was a key moment in triggering massive approaches to environmentalissues, closely related to economic growth and social inclusion. The complementarity, interaction and theintensity of influence of the three pillars of sustainable development (economic - social - environment) led tomajor changes in the priorities and report those pillars, yielding a current of thought that gives a fundamentalrole to the ecological pillar. This background led to the emergence of several new paradigms, namely eco -economy and green economy, eco - innovation, eco - technology, cross - industry, eco - efficiency etc