Analysis of the Factors Affecting China’s Manufacturing Servitization from the Perspective of the Ecological Environment

Abstract

Manufacturing servitization (MS) can effectively alleviate the contradiction between economic growth and ecological carrying capacity and can promote energy conservation and emission reduction in the manufacturing industry (MI). However, China’s MI is in the primary stage of servitization and lacks sufficient ability to provide services; thus, the environmental benefits of MS are not obvious. Therefore, in the context of current pressure to normalize environmental protection, how servitization can drive low-carbon development in MI while taking into account economic development has become an important topic at present. Thus, this study constructs an evaluation index system of factors based on a driver–pressure–state–impact–response (DPSIR) model, and uses the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) model to analyze the causal relationship and key elements among the influencing factors. The results show that from the perspective of the ecological environment, many factors affect MS, although to varying degrees. Among them, the proportion of R&D personnel, input intensity, and the proportion of clean energy are the main factors. Based on the transmission mechanism among these factors, we propose two paths to realizing the service-oriented, low-carbon development of China’s MI.