Eco Efficiency Research Articles

Eco-efficiency assessment of conventional OPC/PPC replacement by LC3 in Cuban residential buildings

This paper aims at assessing the sustainability of replacing conventional OPC/PPC by Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) in Cuba. Authors conducted an eco-efficiency (E-E) analysis supported by E-E ratios, which in turn are rooted on the environmental assessment (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA) and the economic analysis (Economic Value Added, EVA). Taking case studies in Villa Clara province capital district, three construction methods were compared and further conclusions emerged with regard to economic and ecological criteria. A square meter of built area was employed as functional unit. According to main results, Grand panel technique appears to be the benchmarking method, followed by Forsa system and, finally, concrete block technique. LC3 blend outperforms OPC/PPC from both economic and environmental perspective. Furthermore, productive efficiency potentials were found on the field of material selection and raw material procurement. Authors provided decision-makers with some policy recommendations in order to contribute enhancing the sustainable use of LC3 in Cuban construction sector.

INTEGRATION OF LEAN AND GREEN MANUFACTURING TO SUSTAINABILITY IMPROVING AT PT. TEXTILE JAYA GEMILANG


 Textile Jaya Gemilang is a textile company that has a cotton fabric finishing unit. In the identification carried out the company still produces waste and has not yet carried out an environmentally friendly process. Therefore efforts are needed to identify waste in the process of finishing woven fabrics to make the process environmentally friendly by considering the level of eco efficiency and eco costs to determine the proposed process that is environmentally friendly. This research includes steps such as analyzing value stream mapping to find out activities that have value added and categorized as NVA. Furthermore, measurements of environmental impacts were carried out with LCA (Life Cycle Analyzing) and then gave a proposal to provide a proposed process with the 6R approach (reuse, reduce, recycle, remanufacturing, recovery and redesign) in the process of finishing cotton cloth obtained by waste, namely in appropriate processing, defect and waiting time . The results of the Life Cycle Assessment showed results for a process of 248.76 pt, for Life Cycle Impact Assessment Damage Category Human Health of 4.8813 DAILY, Damage Category Ecosystem Quality of 310,000 PDF * m2yr and for Damage Category Resources 1615,646 MJ surplus . Eco cost is Rp. 608,425,018.2. Proposed environmentally friendly process by raising the level of green manufacturing to recycling and reuse.

Synthesis of Biocomposite with Different Ratios of Rapeseed Oil Binder/Wood Bark: Mechanical and Hygrothermal Properties

Growing economy is a basis of public well-being, and its rapid growth is implemented on the expense of environmental quality; therefore, the harmonization of different aims and interests is one of the most important aspects of sustainable development concept. One of the priorities of sustainable development in Lithuania – the reduction of building and building materials industries’ impact on environment by increasing their eco and energy efficiency; consequently, the use of waste from renewable resources for the synthesis of chemical materials and production of building materials may reduce the usage of limited sources and emission of greenhouse gases. Such waste open up the opportunities to partially or fully replace traditional materials such as petroleum based polymers or cements which production emits many pollutants, uses lots of energy and natural resources. Nowadays, wood and agricultural waste are used for the production of biofuel; however, such heat source provides with short-term benefit. The use of the above mentioned waste materials for the production of bio-based thermal insulating composites would provide with long-term benefit and contribute to the improvement of currently targeted energy performance of buildings. During the study, it was obtained that the ratios of wood bark/rapeseed binder changes the main parameters of biocomposites. The obtained products are characterized by the density ranging from 329 kg/m3 to 378 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity – from 0.0665 W/(m·K) to 0.0781 W/(m·K). The compressive strength and short-term water absorption have shown that biocomposites can be used as a self-bearing structural materials due its sufficient strength which is approx. 2 MPa and water uptake varies from 20 vol.% to 40 vol.%.

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.

Cradle to grave environmental-economic analysis of tea life cycle in Iran

Abstract Tea as the second most consumed none-alcoholic beverage in the world next to the water is involved with considerable environmental impacts during its life cycle. Because of the high importance of the tea sector in northern Iran, the present study aimed to assess the environmental burdens of tea in life cycle, including green tea leaf production in the farm and its transportation to the factory, tea processing, tea packaging, processed tea transportation to the local shop and its preparation in private household in Guilan province, Iran. The hotspots of each stage were identified and then all of stages were combined and different alternatives were compared. For this purpose, Life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used based on the ISO 14040 standard. CML-IA baseline method was applied for impact assessment. Also the economic performance was assessed for green tea leaf and packaged black tea by calculating eco-efficiency (EE) scores. Required input data were collected from 30 farms and 30 tea processing factories in Lahijan and Langroud regions. LCA results showed that machinery and diesel fuel were the most pollutant inputs in farm and factory, respectively. Tea green leaf production was identified as the major contributor (57%) to environmental burdens in comparison with other steps throughout tea life cycle. Two-layer packaging was found as the most pollutant scenario in comparison to other scenarios (one-layer, three-layer and polyethylene packages). Cooktop was found to be more environment-friendly than electric kettle. Low EE score for most impact categories indicated the necessity of reconsidering the patterns for tea leaf production. For packaging scenarios, three-layer packaging had the highest net income with lowest environmental impacts. Based on the modelled results, it is suggested that negative environmental consequences of tea life cycle can be reduced by optimization of agro-chemicals uses such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers in the farm, using natural gas instead of diesel fuel in tea processing factory, applying three-layer packages for packaging black tea and using cooktop for boiling water.

Industrial sustainability: Modelling drivers and mechanisms with barriers

Abstract Sustainability's relevance is constantly increasing among industrial decision makers, policy-makers and scholars. To improve sustainability performance, firms must adopt industrial sustainability measures. These have been proven to positively impact on overall firm's performance, but their rate of adoption is still low, and barriers to their adoption need to be properly tackled by drivers. This work is based on a review of literature on drivers to sustainability and to the areas of occupational health and safety, eco efficiency, and energy efficiency, and contributes to industrial sustainability research presenting a novel framework of drivers. The framework comprehends a model of drivers and a model of mechanisms: the former encompasses previous literature contributions and aims to characterize drivers for the adoption of measures in all areas of industrial sustainability; the latter aims to evaluate if a driver may tackle specific barrier or boost the action of another driver. We conducted a preliminary validation of the framework in nine Italian manufacturing firms. Regarding model of drivers, capacity to represent, usefulness and ease of use were evaluated; concerning model of mechanisms usefulness and ease of use were evaluated. Results seem to be sound with an overall positive evaluation of the framework by all the interviewees. Model of drivers was appreciated for its structure and completeness, and for its ability to enhance knowledge and awareness; model of mechanisms was considered useful for properly foster the adoption of a measure within the firm. The framework could be useful for industrial decision makers and policy-makers to better direct resources and efforts to foster the adoption of industrial sustainability measures.

Measuring economic and environmental efficiency for agricultural zones in Iraq using data envelopment analysis

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a non-parametric linear programming based on method for evaluating performance of similar production units such as agricultural firms. Although the method is already extensively applied in many areas of economics, its use in environmental economics and related fields is still limited. The productivity of the agriculture sector in Iraq has yet to reach an acceptable level to control resources and increase production to meet the modern century requirements. The concept recognises the need to simultaneously raise yields, increase input use efficiency and reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming systems to secure future food production and to sustainably use the limited resources for agriculture. Accordingly, this paper proposes a novel approach to measure using DEA to evaluate five zones in production strategic crops. The significance of this objective lies in the fact that some of the zones have limitations while others adversely impact their environment. This paper also employs a model to determine the efficiency of one over zone over the others and to improve optimal mix of the resources and paths to improve the index of technical efficiency and eco efficiency. Incorporating provision of environmental goods as one of the outputs of the farm and reducing environmental pressures are also outlined.

An Integrated DEA Model Allowing Decomposition of Eco-Efficiency: A Case Study of China

Abstract A common feature of previous studies about the application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to determine environmental and economic efficiencies is that the two were analyzed in separate models or frameworks. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the economic efficiency and environmental efficiency with a single model. This paper proposes an integrated DEA model, based on a modification of the directional distance function, which allows us to decompose the eco-efficiency (EE) into the economic efficiency (ECE) and environmental efficiency (ENE). The ECE characterizes the ability of gaining economic benefits while the ENE characterizes the ability to control pollutant emissions in production activities. Identification of ECE and ENE can help decision makers of different regions detect what kind of factor (economic inefficiency or environmental inefficiency) is the main source of eco-inefficiency. This can help decision makers more targeted to improve EE. To illustrate the feasibility of our approach, a case study of 30 regions in China is presented. The empirical results show that almost all regions have very high economic efficiencies. The environmental inefficiency is the main source of eco-inefficiency. The differences of environmental efficiencies lead to the differences of eco-efficiencies in the east, central and west areas, while the economic efficiencies do not have significant differences among these areas. The economic efficiencies showed an opposite “V” shape and the environmental efficiencies showed a decreasing trend during the period 2010–2014.

Closing the Loop through Green Technologies

Human consumption has led to depletion of resources and huge environmental impacts. High ecological rucksack of products causes industries to generate vast amounts of resource wastes and all the products end up as post -consumer wastes. Unless we decouple economic development from resource use and environmental impacts the long term survival of humans is threatened. The key strategies for decoupling are reducing the resource intensity in products, Recovering resources from wastes, product redesign to eliminate wastes and responsible consumption. Green approaches and technologies can be our salvation in decoupling. Practicing Cleaner Production in industries will enhance eco efficiency. In Cleaner Production waste is defined as misplaced resources. Using resources diligently through source reduction, recycling and product modification are key techniques for industries to improve eco efficiency. Achieving high material efficiency, energy efficiency and water efficiency needs green technologies. Resource efficiency cannot be achieved looking at the product alone. This needs a broader approach of life cycle thinking. Addressing the negative impacts from extraction of material to post consumer management of products is the basis of life cycle thinking. Elimination of fossil based fuels a major step in decoupling and using green technologies. Most of the renewable energies eliminate emission of obnoxious gasses to atmosphere. Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) of water will ensure no wastewater flows to environment. A range of green technologies are required to achieve ZLD. Solid waste can be made into useful raw materials through industrial symbiosis. None of these can be achieved by industries using the same business model. Decoupling needs a paradigm shift to an environmental sustainable business model through Eco Innovation. These green approaches will lead us to a low carbon, resource efficient world where we and the future generations are safe. Keywords: Decoupling, Cleaner production, Life cycle thinking, Industrial symbiosis, Eco innovation

Modelling barriers to the adoption of industrial sustainability measures

Sustainability is constantly gaining relevance among industrial decision makers, policy makers and scholars. In order to be sustainable, firms need to implement industrial sustainability measures, however there are many barriers to doing this. This work is based on a review of literature on barriers to the areas of occupational health and safety, eco efficiency, energy efficiency and to sustainability, and contributes to industrial sustainability research by presenting a novel, integrated theoretical model of barriers to the implementation of sustainability measures. The model encompasses previous literature review contributions and is intended to characterize and evaluate barriers to the adoption of industrial sustainability measures in all its areas. We have conducted a preliminary validation of the model investigating eight northern Italian manufacturing firms, looking at its ability to represent barriers to sustainability, usefulness and ease of use. We conducted semi-structured interviews to people responsible of the different areas of industrial sustainability, complemented by questionnaires and secondary materials. Results show a positive overall judgment of the model by all the interviewees. Moreover, the model was able to be applied to issues deriving from different perspectives and different areas of industrial sustainability. The findings can help firms and policy makers overcome barriers and they also provide insight into the different perspectives on the adoption of industrial sustainability measures than can be used to promote their adoption.

A modified eco-efficiency framework and methodology for advancing the state of practice of sustainability analysis as applied to green infrastructure.

We propose a modified eco-efficiency (EE) framework and novel sustainability analysis methodology for green infrastructure (GI) practices used in water resource management. Green infrastructure practices such as rainwater harvesting (RWH), rain gardens, porous pavements, and green roofs are emerging as viable strategies for climate change adaptation. The modified framework includes 4 economic, 11 environmental, and 3 social indicators. Using 6 indicators from the framework, at least 1 from each dimension of sustainability, we demonstrate the methodology to analyze RWH designs. We use life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment to calculate the sustainability indicators of 20 design configurations as Decision Management Objectives (DMOs). Five DMOs emerged as relatively more sustainable along the EE analysis Tradeoff Line, and we used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a widely applied statistical approach, to quantify the modified EE measures as DMO sustainability scores. We also addressed the subjectivity and sensitivity analysis requirements of sustainability analysis, and we evaluated the performance of 10 weighting schemes that included classical DEA, equal weights, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s stakeholder panel, Eco-Indicator 99, Sustainable Society Foundation’s Sustainable Society Index, and 5 derived schemes. We improved upon classical DEA by applying the weighting schemes to identify sustainability scores that ranged from 0.18 to 1.0, avoiding the nonuniqueness problem and revealing the least to most sustainable DMOs. Our methodology provides a more comprehensive view of water resource management and is generally applicable to GI and industrial, environmental, and engineered systems to explore the sustainability space of alternative design configurations.

Sustainable value – An energy efficiency indicator in wastewater treatment plants

Eco efficiency supports companies on their way towards sustainability by focusing their efforts mainly on the reduction of use of materials and energy, on improvement of processes, on cycles' closing and on valorization or elimination of waste flows. This approach was used in 14 wastewater treatment plants by considering their running as an industrial process. The results of energy audits already carried out show that no matter its dimension every Wastewater Treatment Plant presents improvement opportunities concerning energy savings. Those savings can vary from 20 up to 40% and in some specific cases even more (there are examples where 75% were attained).In a flowchart all the inputs and outputs were identified. Energy was quantified and the associated costs were allocated. Special attention was paid to energy use in the treatment processes and therefore the higher electricity consumptions were measured leading to the conclusion that 53% of energy consumption is due to aeration processes and more than 12% to pumping operations. In each wastewater treatment plant the efficiency in the removal of the pollution load was related to the energy consumption. For each wastewater treatment plant the sustainable value indicator, relating removal efficiency to cost, or energy consumed, was established and used for benchmarking between the target plants. Possibilities of reduction of materials and energy consumption in the normal functioning of the wastewater treatment plant were identified. Other improvement opportunities were detected in what concerns the inputs related to population training and information, namely those related to water savings, internal housing water reclamation and chemicals use. Sustainable Value seems to be a good performance indicator for wastewater treatment plants, and presents good potentialities to follow up and monitor the evolution of energy efficiency in processes.In the future the same approach may use other kind of parameters related to ecotoxicity if necessary.

Study on Eco-efficiency Assessment of Jiangxi in China Based on Data Envelopment Analysis

Currently, the strengthening of regional Eco-efficiency research is imperative. This paper establishes the appropriate ecological efficiency evaluation index system by drawing on the research on the ecological efficiency of domestic and foreign scholars. First, evaluate the Eco-efficiency of 11 cities in Jiangxi Province by using DEA method. Then we use SE-DEA to sort the regional that ecological efficiency is equal to 1. Finally, using Malmquist dynamic index to analyze the eco efficiency of each region, and achieve the purpose that study on Evaluation of regional ecological efficiency. The research shows that in the study period, the ecological efficiency of the regional level of Jiangxi province is relatively low, there is no obvious difference between the ecological efficiency of each region, and the growth rate in a downward trend. Each city in the redundant input indexes vary greatly, mainly in four aspects, including the total water consumption, employees, investment in fixed assets and wastewater discharge. Therefore, Jiangxi province should actively change the mode of economic development, strengthen regional cooperation to improve the utilization of resources, actively guide foreign investment, increase investment in education, strengthen the management of environmental pollution, improve environmental governance capacity.

Increasing Cost and Eco Efficiency for Selective Tape Placement and Forming by Adaptive Process Design

The automated placement of continuous fiber-reinforced polymer prepregs (pre-impregnated) is a generative manufacturing technology for composites. Particularly laser-assisted tape placement of unidirectional continuous fiber-reinforced tapes provides potentials for highly flexible composite manufacturing. Whereas the single process of tape placement to generatively build up load carrying structures was already optimized in several research activities and projects, an integrated process chain approach promises further increases in cost and eco efficiency. An adaptive process design considering interdependencies between selective tape placement and a subsequent forming improves the entire process chain. Due to the knowledge of process interdependencies, the advantages of high speed placement on predetermined load carrying areas can be fully exploited. The system and process design for this adaptive manufacturing approach, the underlying assessment methodology as well as its application on a manufacturing process chain for structural composite parts are presented in this paper.

Eco-Efficiency and Sustainable Development as Efforts to Produce Environmentally Friendly Product: An Exploratory Case Study

The issue of climate change, global warming and environmental damage caused by the production process lead to many changes in manufacturing technology, in the understanding of environmental concern or environmental awareness. Eco-efficiency is a concept that requires companies to concern the environment, and is then forwarded to the concept of sustainable development which requires current generations think and act for not passing the environmental damage to future generations. This study was aimed to answer whether a go-international company has environmental awareness, how they understand, interpreted, and applied these eco efficiency and sustainable development concepts. The research methodology used is Yin’s non positivist exploratory case study research in PT. Semen Indonesia. The results showed that although the company has already understood and implemented eco-efficiency, and other environmental friendly program, such as Japanese 5’ S (Seiri, S eiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke mean Tidiness, Order liness, Cleanliness, Standardiza tion, and Discipline); Triple Bottom Line (Profit, People and Planet), and other programs. The implementation of such programs leads to the application of sustainable development concept.<br />The research’s implications is academically it will enrich management accounting literature by introducing environmental-based management accounting, and push academicians to restructure the content of management accounting subject as well as it will inform companies to aware to possible environmental problem in their production process.

TOWARDS AN ECO-EFFICIENCY MODEL FOR EXTENDED SUPPLY CHAIN – BRAZILIAN FOOD INDUSTRY

Designers make decisions that ultimately impact on both the economic and environmental performance of the products, and many of these costs and impacts occur across the supply chain. This paper proposes an eco-efficiency model for product life cycle management within the extended supply chain (ESC) for food industry. Eco-efficiency (EE) has the potential to incorporate both environmental and economic improvement by companies of ESC, and we explore the use of EE in the design process. It is noteworthy that it is an imperative in the current competitive market that companies must be able to manage their entire production chain taking into account environmental issues as an important factor in their decision-making processes. Therefore, it is believed that EE can integrate and strengthen a company’s functions and assist its decision-making processes as well as implement improvements within its ESC. In this context, it is expected that the proposed model will be able to deliver a validation process based on EE strategies as well as map environmental aspects and its impacts. In addition, the proposed model aims to consider economic aspects along the product ESC and to present elements which can help companies to promote improvements within its supply chain by considering a more environmentally friendly perspective.

Sustainable Manufacturing based Decision Support Model for Product Design and Development Process

Sustainable manufacturing is creation of manufactured products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. Sustainable manufacturing also enhances employee, community, and product safety. In order to adapt sustainable Manufacturing concepts, it is essential to plan and decide from a product design and development stage as it has been revealed that 80% of sustainability impacts from the product are decided in the product design and development stage. In modern day Products Design and manufacturing it is always advantages to have complete knowledge of the Life Cycle of the Product. If Life cycle information is available for the designers, it will be easy for them to take many decisions related to specially the environmental performance or eco efficiency which is one of the emerging marketing tools. Further, with the full knowledge of the product life cycle, new/existing products can be designed/redesigned based on eco-design principals or environmentally friendly manner, thereby to improve the material and energy efficiency during the manufacturing and user phases and finally will have better environmental performances. The product life cycle and Eco design are two key techniques used in Sustainable Manufacturing specially these will enable to convert any existing product or process to be competitive in the market by better environmental performances and quality while minimizing manufacturing cost beside with better environmental performances. These issues prevail mainly since there is no such systematic approach towards Product Design and Development among the many manufacturers. Since Sustainable Manufacturing Concept applicable for all major phases of the product Life cycle, it is essential to co-relate life cycle assessment outcomes with product design and development process. However, there are numerous decisions needed to take into account at different stages of product design and development process. Therefore, in this research, a decision support model is developed based on LCA and Eco Design concepts. The developed model has been validated with few existing product decision and development processes. The results shows that significant number of issues and potential improvements to the existing design and development processes can be taken from the proposed model and that will leads to many sustainability options to the whole product life cycle than what is persist presently.

Eco-Friendly, Water Saving Sanitation System

Sanitation facility is among the main living requirements of mankind. It should be more hygienic and easy. Presently, many existing sanitation systems extensively depended on pipe borne water. On the contrary, some parts of the world experiences water scarcity and that has led to un-hygiene sanitation systems. In terms of eco efficiency, even the hygienic sanitation systems have more opportunity to improve. Inefficient water consumption and none usage of nutrients available in excreta in a useful manner are main culprits. Since nutrients available in excreta are not returned to soil breaks the nutrient cycle, end up with less fertile soil which could not directly use for agricultural purposes. Therefore, this research focuses on design and developing an eco-friendly sanitation system, on ancient which minimize pipe borne fresh water usage for sanitation while facilitating nutrients mixing to soil in order to enhance soils fertility based eco-friendly filtering mechanism. The proposed system has three focused areas: water saving option, eco-friendly digestion method with a business model. The new design reduces water consumption with the assistance of manually operated mechanical suction system. An energy free digestion mechanism handles the solid part of excreta. Bio degradable cheap or freely available material is used as filtration media and replaceable blocks have been designed for easiness to operate the new method. Since proposed system facilitate re-usage of black water and digested excreta on biodegradable media as fertilizer while closing the loop of the cycle of nutrients, proposed system can be branded as eco-friendly sanitation system.

Facility Layout: As a Tool for Clean Production and Eco Efficiency

Within the scope of sustainable development eco efficiency and cleaner production are new subjects for diminishing the industrial waste and increasing the productivity. They are broad topics. Eco efficiency philosophy aims decreasing usage amount of energy, water, raw materials during production cycle without decreasing quality of produced products. Because of less energy, water and raw material usage it provides environmental productivity (less pollution). Clean production, philosophically serves similar purpose. Clean production is minimizing the amount of waste on source of waste. It deals with eco design, good purification, and environmental friendly production processes. Diminishing amount of waste and pollution provides environmental productivity but also it provides economic productivity because of decreasing waste treatment cost. These subjects are generally linked with environmental sciences because they are about diminishing occurrence amount of waste and waste treatment. But also those subjects are related with productivity (industrial engineering). In this study, an industrial engineering subject which is Facility Layout is reviewed as a tool for eco efficiency and clean production.

Análise da Produção Científica Brasileira Sobre Sustentabilidade Entre os Anos de 2008 a 2011

This article purports to conduct an evaluation of the scientific literature on sustainability, from what has been produced within the electronic library SPELL (Scientific Electronic Library Periodicals) in the period from 2008 to 2011, totaling 99 articles. A bibliometric research was carried out by adopting an exploratory perspective of a mixed imprint: qualitatively, regarding the literature and content analysis to categorize the units of meaning, and quantitatively, concerning the descriptive statistics. The main results of the research were the strong growth in the number of papers published on the subject in 2009 (33) compared to 2008 (2), this percentage having increased from 2% to 33% with a slight decline in 2010, but resumed in 2011 up to a 40% average of the total sample; it was possible to recognize a considerable amount of universities and colleges - thirty-two (32) IES in four years of publications of articles in scientific papers on sustainablity. Still, it was found a concentration of articles among 10 IES articles with 46% of the total. Among the total of 99 articles approaching several topics, they were all summarized into the most relevant topics on sustainability with an emphasis on “Environmental Management and Eco efficiency”, followed by the theme 'Corporative Social and Environmental Responsibility, Management and Innovation Models' with 17 productions. There was also a group of assorted topics which figured in the scenario of this work and suggest further research. In addition, we present the 16 most cited authors from the 99 surveyed articles in which one might observe a blend of national and international authors. Finally, the most relevant papers based on the number of mentions were systematically recorded. It is believed that the systematization of the major works in the field of sustainability can be helpful in advancing and maturing of future work on this topic.