Eco-efficiency Level Research Articles

Analysis of Eco-Efficiency Level in Tofu Processing Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Method

A tofu industrial center in Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java requires approximately 700 kg of soybeans per day. There is some waste in tofu processing, including energy consumption, water consumption, and has a negative impact on the environment in the form of liquid waste and solid waste. This study aims to analyze and provide suggestions for improvements regarding the level of eco-efficiency in tofu processing. The method used is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using SimaPro software with the scope of "gate to gate". This research resulted in an eco-cost value of IDR 2,005,000 and an EEI value of 0.13 which means that it is affordable but not sustainable. Then obtained an EVR value of 7.5 and an EER rate of -6.5%, which means that the eco-efficiency of tofu products is quite poor. So that the proposed improvements that can be used are minimizing the use of raw materials, water and energy and treating waste from tofu processing according to the predetermined booklet.

Peer effect, political competition and eco-efficiency: evidence from city-level data in China

ABSTRACT This study examines the impacts of political competition on eco-efficiency. We first develop a theoretical model in which local government officials compete against each other to maximise their own political score. We find that after an initial stage of decline, eco-efficiency eventually turns upwards, once environmental performance becomes a meaningful component of local government officials’ annual assessment. Eco-efficiency also exhibits a pattern of convergence. Lastly, the level of political competition is found to be negatively correlated with eco-efficiency. For the empirical analysis, we use a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to compute the eco-efficiency level for 191 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2015. Our empirical evidence presents a ‘U’-shape pattern in the trend of eco-efficiency and identifies two peer effects that work in opposite directions: the incentivising effect arising from higher performing neighbours, and the disincentivising effect when a city outperforms its competitors. Both peer effects lead to convergence in eco-efficiency, and our spatial econometric modeling analysis suggests that the net peer effect is significantly positive. We also find evidence of political competition reducing eco-efficiency, as predicted in the theoretical model. Our findings are robust to alternative measures of eco-efficiency.

Determining the key factors that contribute to the eco-efficiency level of honey production using life cycle approaches

Determining the key factors that contribute to the eco-efficiency level of honey production using life cycle approaches

A study on the effects of natural resource abundance and foreign direct investment on regional eco-efficiency in China under the target of COP26

Regional eco-efficiency emphasizes the harmonious development of the economy, society and the natural environment, which is of great significance in the construction of an ecological civilization. This study analyzed the data of 30 regions in China from 2009 to 2021, measured regional eco-efficiency by using the super-efficient SBM model and then verified the influence of resource abundance and foreign direct investment (FDI) on regional eco-efficiency using the Tobit model. The conclusions were as follows. (1) The eco-efficiency level in China shows a slow upward trend from 2009 to 2021, and the national average value is low, at 0.519. The eco-efficiency levels of three regions—east, central and west—increased between 2009 and 2021, with the highest eco-efficiency in the east and the lowest in the west. (2) The negative elasticity coefficients of natural resource abundance confirm the existence of the “resource curse” in the eco-efficiency domain in the central and western regions and nationwide, but not in the eastern region. (3) The impact of FDI intensity on eco-efficiency nationwide is negative, but not significant. Eastern and western regions enjoy enhanced regional eco-efficiency, but the effect in the central region is negative. (4) Human capital promotes eco-efficiency in all regions; urbanization in the eastern and western regions and nationwide promotes eco-efficiency, whereas it inhibits eco-efficiency in the central region. Economic growth cannot increase eco-efficiency nationwide, with a positive promotion effect in the eastern and central regions but a negative promotion effect in the western ones. Moreover, green finance can significantly improve national and eastern regional eco-efficiency, but has a non-significant promotion effect in the central region and significant inhibiting effects in the west. Finally, in this paper, the corresponding countermeasures proposed for improving eco-efficiency are described.

Investigating the prospect of cleaner production in informal enterprises: A scientific assessment of environmental burdens and economic efficiency

The present study aims to assess the prospects for cleaner production (CP) and sustainable development (SD) of informally operated small manufacturing enterprises, which are frequently blamed for uncontrolled waste disposal and causing pollution to the environment. The economic efficiency level of these firms has been explored to this end, and the metallic pollution loads in the surrounding environment have been scientifically analyzed to investigate the nexus between these two. DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis)-Tobit analysis has been employed, and a pollution load index (PLI) of heavy metal pollution comprising two environmental compartments (soil and water) has been constructed based on the concentration level of metalloid pollutants in the samples collected from the surrounding areas of the studied informal firms in Bangladesh. The study disproves CP practice in majority of the informal firms in Bangladesh by observing a positive relationship between firm-level efficiency and pollution load sourced from their production activities. Afterwards, this study estimates the eco-efficiency level of firms by considering pollution load as an undesirable output and minimizing its impact in an input-oriented DEA model. Applying the eco-efficiency scores in censored Tobit regression analysis, the outcome endorses the prospect of CP for informally operated enterprises in Bangladesh. However, the CP prospect can only materialize if and only if firms are provided with adequate technical, financial, and strategic support for achieving eco-efficiency in their production. The informal and marginal nature of the studied firms restricts them from getting access to the facilities and support services needed for implementing CP and moving towards sustainable manufacturing. Therefore, this study recommends green practices in informal manufacturing and limiting the informal firms by bringing them gradually under the coverage of formalization, which is in line with the achievement of the targets mentioned in Sustainable Development Goal 8.

Targeting Environmental and Technical Parameters through Eco-Efficiency Criteria for Iberian Pig Farms in the dehesa Ecosystem

Eco-efficiency could be defined as the simultaneous ability to achieve acceptable economic results with the least possible environmental degradation. Its analysis in crop and livestock production systems has become a hot topic among politicians and scientists. Pig pasture production systems are in high commercial demand because they are associated with high quality and environmentally friendly products. This work aimed to assess the eco-efficiency of pig farms and subsequently explore the determinants of inefficiency in the dehesa ecosystem in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Farmers from 35 randomly selected farms were interviewed to obtain farm-level data. The eco-efficiency level was calculated through a joined data envelopment analysis (DEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Subsequently, a truncated Tobit model was applied to determine factors associated with inefficiency. The results of the research revealed that Iberian pig farms are highly eco-efficient. The estimated average eco-efficiency score is 0.919 and ranges from 0.479 to 1, suggesting that the average farm could increase its value by about 8.1%. This means that the aggregate environmental pressures could be reduced by approximately this proportion (8%) while maintaining the same input level. The determinants related to social and demographic characteristics that positively affected eco-efficiency were the number of children, while years of farm activity and educational level had a negative effect. On the other hand, farm’s characteristics and the type of management, the percentage of own surface area, the percentage of livestock use, and the high proportion of pigs fattened in montanera, positively affected the eco-efficiency level.

Climate change, where do we come from and where are we going? European aviation sector behaviour

Climate change has caused great pressure on the air transport sector. European airlines are subject to a pioneering CO2 emissions regime. This paper sets out, first, to ascertain whether the European aviation sector has adapted since the launch of the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Second, based on the answer to the above, we predict the situation of the sector in the medium and long term. The study sample was formed by the top 10 European airlines. The years covered are those since the inclusion of the airline sector in the emissions regime (2012–2019). Clusters were defined by eco-efficiency level using K-means cluster analysis and the Markov model was applied to predict future behaviour. The results have shown, on the one hand, that the larger airlines were the most eco-efficient throughout the study period. On the other hand, companies focused on a low-cost strategy have behaved worse since, although they have also experienced significant improvements in their use of air traffic capacity, even above the large airlines, they have not evolved to a higher level of CO2 emission efficiency and even getting worse in some cases. However, in the medium and long term, our estimate for the sector is a trend towards minimal eco-efficiency in CO2 emissions. As governments continue to increase emission limitation requirements, in order not to jeopardise the sustainability of the aviation sector, it is advisable to encourage investments in the development of biofuels and their supply chain, international agreements to optimise flight routes or projects to improve the energy efficiency of new engines.

An empirical study on industrial eco-efficiency in arid resource exploitation region of northwest China.

Located in the northwest of China, Xinjiang is a typical arid desert area and mineral resources development zone. The lack of water resources and a fragile ecological environment restricts the sustainable development of the region. Based on the industrial panel data of Xinjiang from 2001 to 2015, this paper uses the undesirable output SBM model, Malmquist index model, and Tobit regression model to comprehensively and systematically measure and evaluate the industrial eco-efficiency and its change characteristics from provincial, regional, and prefectural levels. The results show that (1) the industrial eco-efficiency level in Xinjiang is generally low, lower than the national average, but the development trend is good, and it has been steadily rising over time, from 2001 to 2015 and from the "Tenth Five-Year Plan" period to the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period. (2) The spatial distribution of industrial ecological efficiency of Xinjiang is not balanced. Northern Xinjiang is larger than that of eastern Xinjiang and the southern Xinjiang. The developments of 14 prefectures are uneven and asynchronous, which can be divided into two development modes: industrial and agriculture and animal husbandry region. (3) Through the decomposition analysis of the Malmquist index, it has been found that the technological progress index is the restriction factor of the changing trend of TFP, while the technical efficiency index and the pure technical efficiency index are the promoting factors. (4) The main factors causing the decline in ecological efficiency are industrial sulfur dioxide emissions, industrial nitrogen oxide emissions, total industrial water consumption, and general industrial solid waste. It can be seen that the emission of air pollutants and excessive industrial water are the main problems in the region. (5) Industrial ecological efficiency is positively correlated with industrial development level, scientific and technological innovations, industrial structure, and environmental planning, whereas negatively correlated with the degree of opening up and industrial agglomeration. (6) Xinjiang is an extremely arid and water-scarce region. These are the keys and prerequisites for saving water resources and strengthening the comprehensive utilization of water resources. Whether in the industrial areas or in the agricultural and animal husbandry areas, water conservation should be given top priority.

China’s Eco-Efficiency: Regional Differences and Influencing Factors Based on a Spatial Panel Data Approach

From the Kyoto Protocol to the Copenhagen Conference and the Paris Agreement, eco-environmental problems have gradually become a matter of common concern worldwide. Eco-efficiency (EE) is an essential indicator for measuring levels of sustainable development. This study uses an epsilon-based measure (EBM) model with undesirable outputs to evaluate the EEs of 30 Chinese provinces during the research period 2008 to 2017, and a spatial Durbin model (SDM) to search for the impact factors of EE. The results indicate that most provinces in China have a low EE level. The EE value of the eastern area is higher than are those for the central, western, or northeastern areas. The EE in China as a whole demonstrates an inverted V-shaped trend with a high point in 2011. The SDM shows that economic development level, foreign trade dependence, and technological progress exert significant positive effects on EE, while population density exerts significant negative influences on EE. This paper provides scientific bases for the formulation of policies resulting in sustainable development.

Analysis of the eco-efficiency level in the dining table production process using life cycle assessment method to increase industry sustainability

This study aims to measure the environmental costs (eco-cost) and the level of eco-efficiency of the production of the dining table in the Jepara furniture industry and formulates recommendations to improve eco-efficiency. The measurement of eco-efficiency was performed using life cycle assessment (LCA) with the eco-cost method. The furniture manufacturer produces a waste of 30 % and the product reject 15 %. The result of the data processing shows that the eco-costs of IDR 134,000 per unit product and net value IDR 208,000. The eco-efficiency index or EEI is 1.55 which means that the products categorized as affordable and sustainable. The eco-efficiency level is 35% means that the environmental performance is low and the furniture production needs improvements in the production process. Strategy to improve the eco-efficiency of production is increasing the utilization of wood waste and increasing the capability of technicians and operators to reduce the product defect.

Impact of environmental policy on eco-efficiency in country districts in Poland: How does the decreasing return to scale change perspectives?

In macroeconomic analyses usually a simple proportional trade-off between economic growth and environmental pressure is assumed, i.e. constant return to scale (CRS). In this study authors show how changing CRS assumption affects environmental policy effectiveness based on Polish example. The problem revealed in the conducted analysis is actual in many countries, where the local perspective may efface global threats. The empirical objective of this paper is to assess cost-effectiveness of environmental policies at the county level under various return to scale (RTS) scenarios. First, environmental pressure was measured in four dimensions: air, soil, water pollution and bio-uniformity; second, the double-bootstrapped truncated regression model under different RTS were estimated, verifying the cost-effectiveness of county and transnational policies. The results send a message that the adoption of CRS assumption recommended in a such case by literature and usually followed by local authorities may lead to misleading assessment of the eco-efficiency level. It was found that local policy loses its impact on the eco-efficiency under VRS and 40% of local authorities in Poland can no longer benefit from economies of scale. The article offers original methodology, first, for measuring eco-efficiency in macroeconomic approach, second, a frontier-based cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), adopting the double-bootstrapped modelling procedure.

Measurement and Spatio-temporal evolution of China’s Regional Eco-efficiency

Based on panel data from 2008 to 2017, the Super-SBM model that considers undesired output has been to measure the eco-efficiency of 30 provinces in China. Meanwhile, the spatial autocorrelation analysis is incorporated into the spatiotemporal evolution law in order to calculate the global and local Moran’s I index, and combining the Moran scatter plot to explore the spatiotemporal evolution and agglomeration characteristics of regional eco-efficiency. The results show that the overall level of China’s eco-efficiency has improved, but the regional differences are obvious, shows a gradient descending pattern of “East, Northeast, Middle and West”. The regions with familiar eco-efficiency level showed the volatility clustering phenomenon, and that the regions and their neighbors have potentially similar trends. Eco-efficiency in China was improved followed by the improvement of local polarization situation and regional differences have narrowed.

Eco-efficiency Level of Production Process of Waste Cooking Oil to be Biodiesel with Life Cycle Assessment

Lack of awareness and knowledge of environmental protection, many people discard cooking oil waste. According to several studies, cooking oil waste can be processed into more valuable products through certain processes that require energy and material. Biodiesel is an example. Beside biodiesel, the production process also produces non-product output. Thus, efforts to utilize cooking oil waste into more valuable products also have a negative impact on the environment. This study aims to measure the environmental impact of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil and compare it if it is discharged to landfill without the recycling process. Measurement of environmental impacts is carried out using a Life Cycle Assessment. Measurement of the environmental impact of biodiesel processing from cooking oil waste is based on a process carried out at a research institute. The measurement results state that the disposal of cooking oil waste has an adverse effect on the ecotoxicity category. Whereas the processing of cooking oil waste into biodiesel has advantages in the categories of climate change, the formation of photochemical oxidants, fine dust, oil and gas depletion, and water pressure indicators. the level of eco efficiency from processing waste cooking oil to biodiesel produces a value close to one which means that the production process is affordable but not yet sustainable.

Measurement of Regional Industrial Ecological Efficiency in China and an Analysis of Its Influencing Factors

In recent years, with the rapid advancement of industrialization and urbanization, China's economy has experienced a period of rapid development. However, while China has become the world's second largest economy, it has also become a veritable resource consumer and environmental polluter. So China must need to transform its economic development model and vigorously promote ecological progress. We use interprovincial panel data from 2012 to 2016 to calculate and analyze the industrial ecological efficiency of 31 provinces in China, and then discuss the factors that influence efficiency. The results show that, during the research year, the industrial eco-efficiency of 31 provinces and municipalities in China has been rising steadily in time series but differs significantly in regional cross-sections. Moreover, the eco-efficiency of the eastern region was higher than the central and western regions. Among the influencing factors, the per capita GDP, the proportion of the secondary industry's output value to the regional GDP, and the population density all had a positive impact on industrial eco-efficiency, and the overall industrial eco-efficiency level of the eastern region is higher than the central and western regions. Therefore, the keys to improving regional industrial eco-efficiency are as follows: increasing the income of residents, accelerating the ecological transformation of traditional industries, optimizing the population lay out to alleviate the conflict between people and land, and narrowing the regional development gap.

Penerapan Produksi Ramah Lingkungan Pada Proses Produksi UKM Batik Tulis

Banyak UKM Batik yang telah berkembang di kota Kabupaten Sidoarjo, Jawa Timur, diindikasikan sebagai penyebab pencemaran lingkungan yang terjadi akibat penggunaan bahan kimia dalam proses produksi batik. Proses produksi batik tulis mayoritas menggunakan pewarna kimia yang tergolong pada kategori tidak sustain (tidak ramah lingkungan) tetapi affordable (layak secara ekonomis). Untuk meningkatkan tingkat eko-efisiensi bisa dilakukan dengan cara menaikkan harga jual, mengurangi biaya produksi atau menciptakan produksi bersih yang bisa dilakukan dengan menggunakan bahan pewarna alternatif (pewarna alami) dan menerapkan strategi end of life melalui: 1)Penerapan teknologi tepat guna pencelupan kain batik pada proses pewarnaan. 2)Konversi bahan bakar menggunakan tabung LPG 3 kg. 3)Pembuatan kowen sederhana. 4) Penerapan instalasi pengolahan air limbah (IPAL) dengan teknologi elektrokoagulan. Alternatif teknologi yang paling layak diterapkan pada UKM batik Tulis Desa Jetis di Kabupaten Sidoarjo Sidoarjo adalah penerapan teknologi tepat guna pencelupan kain batik pada proses pewarnaan. Dengan penerapan teknologi tepat guna pencelupan kain batik pada proses pewarnaan akan mampu meningkatkan eko-efesiensi pada proses produksi UKM batik Tulis Desa Jetis Sidoarjo.

Does Eco-Efficiency Improve Financial Performance of Manufacturing Companies in Indonesia?

This study aims to determine the impact of environmental performance proxied by eco-efficiency on the financial performance of manufacturing companies in Indonesia. İn this study, the multiple linear regression test was used to analyse the data. The sample of this study is manufacturing companies that listed at the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2012 until 2016 with the total observation is 80 firm-years.The results of this study indicated that the average level of eco-efficiency of the manufacturing companies is still relatively low (0.38). The environmental performance as measured by the eco-efficiency has a positive significant effect on the financial performance of the companies. Therefore, this study suggests that companies can improve their financial performance by enhancing their eco-efficiency level.This study aims to determine the impact of environmental performance proxied by eco-efficiency on the financial performance of manufacturing companies in Indonesia. İn this study, the multiple linear regression test was used to analyse the data. The sample of this study is manufacturing companies that listed at the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2012 until 2016 with the total observation is 80 firm-years.The results of this study indicated that the average level of eco-efficiency of the manufacturing companies is still relatively low (0.38). The environmental performance as measured by the eco-efficiency has a positive significant effect on the financial performance of the companies. Therefore, this study suggests that companies can improve their financial performance by enhancing their eco-efficiency level.

Analysis of economic efficiency and eco-efficiency of Chinese star hotels based on SBM model

Star hotels, as the core sector of China’s tourism development, the improvement of their economic efficiency is an important way for the tourism industry to operate well. On the other hand, improving eco-efficiency can promote star hotels to take more responsibility for the ecological environment and promote the sustainable development of tourism industry. In this paper, the A Slacks-Based Measure model (SBM), as one kind of data envelopment analysis, is used to construct the economic efficiency and eco efficiency input-output system of Chinese star hotels according to the development characteristics of star hotels in China. By collecting the data in 2014 and using the energy balance sheet to calculate the carbon emission, we further calculate the economic efficiency and eco-efficiency level of the star hotels in 30 provinces in China’s main land, and further analysis the input-output spatial pattern and development trend of the eco-economic system in China’s star hotels through the Getis-Ord Gi index and coupling analysis. It is found that the economic efficiency and ecoefficiency of Chinese star hotels are consistent with their spatial distribution, and they have a significant linear positive correlation. The spatial distribution of the economic efficiency and eco-efficiency of Chinese star hotels is extremely uneven, and there is no spatial agglomeration. Moreover, the high efficiency area has no obvious positive impact on the periphery.

Assessing the eco-efficiency of a circular economy system in China's coal mining areas: Emergy and data envelopment analysis

Improving the eco-efficiency of the circular economy system in mining areas has been recognized as the most effective way to reduce the greenhouse effect and achieve sustainable development. Based on the emergy theory and on data envelopment analysis (DEA), this paper adopts the SBM-Undesirable model to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the circular economy system in China's largest coal mining area, Shanxi Province, during the period 2006–2015. Emergy flow indices are treated as input and output indices. Eco-efficiency is factorized into economic efficiency and environmental efficiency. The potential for improvement of the circular economy system is analyzed based on input redundancy and output deficiency. The results for the period 2006–2015 indicate the following: (1) both the input and the output of the circular system increase during this period; (2) the increased input relies on mostly imported emergy, and the increase in waste emergy is lower than the exported emergy; (3) eco-efficiency is invalid except for 2011 and 2012 and exhibits a decreasing trend beginning in 2013; (4) environmental efficiency is invalid over the entire period, and the eco-efficiency level is positively related to the economic efficiency score; and (5) the circular economy system has a larger energy saving space, and the key to achieving sustainability of the circular economy system is output growth.

Determination of eco-efficiency level of solid waste management of polypropylene cloth on motorcycle tire industry in Cileungsi (West Java)

Sustainability is now accepted by all stakeholders as a guiding principle for both public policy making and corporate strategies. However, the biggest challenges are still in the real and substantial implementation of the sustainability concept. The Motorcycle Tire Manufacturing Industry produces a by-product in the form of solid waste Polypropylene Fabric which is produced from one of its production processes, namely the Calendering process. Therefore, efforts need to be made to manage the waste resulting from the production process to become something more valuable so that a better level of eco-efficiency can be obtained. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of eco-efficiency of Polypropylene Fabric solid waste treatment produced from the calendering process and provide recommendations in an effort to improve the value of eco-efficiency. The quantitative method is used to calculate the efficiency of polypropylene fabric solid waste management that can still be taken from the waste. Based on the results of laboratory calculations and checks it was found that there was an eco-efficiency value of 30% for the reuse of waste polypropylene cloth and there were economic benefits of Rp. 355,877,264 in 2018 (based on forecasting the addition of waste in the future).

The environmental performance of SMEs in the Brazilian textile industry and the relationship with their financial performance

Currently, the concern with the environment is increasing and organizations seek solutions to preserve nature and at the same time earn higher profits or competitiveness. For this, they make frequent use of structured procedures in order to reduce their costs and expenses. However, it has not been always considered the environmental performance related to the financial performance of these processes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between environmental performance measured by eco-efficiency level with the financial performance of small and medium textile manufacturing companies. This study was done through a survey conducted in the interest of research companies in the state of Paraná in Brazil, where financial and environmental performance indicators were measured. The data analysis and validation of the hypotheses proposed, to some extent showed a surprising result because the larger the size of the company, the worst its environmental performance measured by their eco-efficiency level. On the other hand, it was not possible to identify a statistically significant relationship between environmental and financial performances of the companies surveyed. Therefore, it is concluded that this study is in line with those authors who claim not to be possible to establish a direct relationship between environmental and financial performances of companies, in opposition of another group of authors who claim contrariwise.