Resource efficiency is one key element to support industrial production in Germany and Europe and an important contribution towards sustainability. Research today is focusing on development of resource efficient technologies and their industrial implementation. Based on a research program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, this contribution tries to quantify the resource efficiency effects created by recent scientific and technical developments in resource-intensive production processes. Taking one industrial branch as an example, the improvements in cumulative material demand, primary energy demand, and global warming potential are being identified. Moreover, implementation aspects for resource efficiency innovations are addressed.