The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Ernest Reigmartinez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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assessing farming eco efficiency a data envelopment analysis approach
Journal of Environmental Management, 2011Co-Authors: Andres J Picazotadeo, Jose A Gomezlimon, Ernest ReigmartinezAbstract:This paper assesses farming Eco-Efficiency using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques. Eco-Efficiency scores at both farm and environmental pressure-specific levels are computed for a sample of Spanish farmers operating in the rain-fed agricultural system of Campos County. The determinants of Eco-Efficiency are then studied using truncated regression and bootstrapping techniques. We contribute to previous literature in this field of research by including information on slacks in the assessment of the potential environmental pressure reductions in a DEA framework. Our results reveal that farmers are quite eco-inefficient, with very few differences emerging among specific environmental pressures. Moreover, eco-inefficiency is closely related to technical inefficiencies in the management of inputs. Regarding the determinants of Eco-Efficiency, farmers benefiting from agri-environmental programs as well as those with university education are found to be more eco-efficient. Concerning the policy implications of these results, public expenditure in agricultural extension and farmer training could be of some help to promote integration between farming and the environment. Furthermore, Common Agricultural Policy agri-environmental programs are an effective policy to improve Eco-Efficiency, although some doubts arise regarding their cost-benefit balance.
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assessing farming eco efficiency a data envelopment analysis approach
Research Papers in Economics, 2010Co-Authors: Andres J Picazotadeo, Jose A Gomezlimon, Ernest ReigmartinezAbstract:This paper assesses farming Eco-Efficiency using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Eco-Efficiency scores at both farm and environmental pressurespecific levels are computed for a sample of Spanish farmers operating in the rainfed agricultural system of Campos County. The determinants of Eco-Efficiency are then studied using truncated regression and bootstrapping. We contribute to previous literature by including information on slacks in the assessment of the potential environmental-pressure reductions in a DEA framework. Our results reveal that farmers are quite eco-inefficient, with very few differences emerging among specific environmental pressures. Furthermore, farmers benefiting from agrienvironmental programs as well as those with university education are found to be more eco-efficient. Concerning the policy implications of these results, public expenditure in agricultural extension and farmer training could be of some help to promote integration between farming and the environment. Furthermore, Common Agricultural Policy agri-environmental programs are also an effective policy to improve Eco-Efficiency.
Shishir Kumar Behera - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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methodological aspects of applying eco efficiency indicators to industrial symbiosis networks
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014Co-Authors: Hungsuck Park, Shishir Kumar BeheraAbstract:Abstract In this study, we proposed Eco-Efficiency indicator as an integral parameter for simultaneously quantifying the economic and environmental performance of industrial symbiosis (IS) networks. Based on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development definition of Eco-Efficiency, the Eco-Efficiency indicators proposed include one economic indicator, and three generally applicable simplified environmental indicators (raw material consumption, energy consumption, and CO2 emission). Three eco-efficiencies corresponding to three environmental indicators are assessed using seven IS networks that were developed between 2007 and 2012, which are currently operational in Ulsan Eco-Industrial Park (EIP), South Korea. Our results indicate that the Eco-Efficiency of individual IS networks improved up to 28.7%. Besides, the evolution of seven IS networks comprising 21 companies resulted in an overall Eco-Efficiency enhancement of about 10%. The proposed Eco-Efficiency indicators for IS networks can be easily utilized to communicate with decision makers at any level to assist in transforming conventional industrial complexes to EIP. The implications of the study and limitations of the methodology are delineated.
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methodological aspects of applying eco efficiency indicators to industrial symbiosis networks
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014Co-Authors: Hungsuck Park, Shishir Kumar BeheraAbstract:Abstract In this study, we proposed Eco-Efficiency indicator as an integral parameter for simultaneously quantifying the economic and environmental performance of industrial symbiosis (IS) networks. Based on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development definition of Eco-Efficiency, the Eco-Efficiency indicators proposed include one economic indicator, and three generally applicable simplified environmental indicators (raw material consumption, energy consumption, and CO2 emission). Three eco-efficiencies corresponding to three environmental indicators are assessed using seven IS networks that were developed between 2007 and 2012, which are currently operational in Ulsan Eco-Industrial Park (EIP), South Korea. Our results indicate that the Eco-Efficiency of individual IS networks improved up to 28.7%. Besides, the evolution of seven IS networks comprising 21 companies resulted in an overall Eco-Efficiency enhancement of about 10%. The proposed Eco-Efficiency indicators for IS networks can be easily utilized to communicate with decision makers at any level to assist in transforming conventional industrial complexes to EIP. The implications of the study and limitations of the methodology are delineated.
Xiaohong Chen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the effects of three types of environmental regulation on eco efficiency a cross region analysis in china
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018Co-Authors: Shenggang Ren, Baolong Yuan, Xiaohong ChenAbstract:The improvement of regional Eco-Efficiency is a significant approach to achieve coordinated development of China's economic development and environmental protection, and an effective environmental regulation system is a crucial driver to the improvement of regional Eco-Efficiency. Based on the panel data of China's 30 provinces during 2000–2013, this paper divides environmental regulation into three types: command-and-control regulation, market-based regulation and voluntary regulation. STIRPAT model is employed to test the effects of these three environmental regulations on Eco-Efficiency in the eastern, central and western regions of China. Research results turn out that: (1) in the eastern region, market-based and voluntary environmental regulation have a positive impact on Eco-Efficiency improvement while command-and-control environmental regulation has no significant impact, and (2) in the central region, command-and-control and market-based environmental regulation can promote Eco-Efficiency more significantly compared with voluntary environmental regulation, and (3) in the western region, command-and-control environmental regulation plays a positive role in Eco-Efficiency improvement whilst market-based and voluntary environmental regulation have no significant impacts. These findings indicate that the effects of different types of environmental regulation on Eco-Efficiency apparently differ in regions. Finally, to optimize and adjust the environmental regulation tools, policy recommendations targeting different regions are concluded.
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can environmental regulation promote the coordinated development of economy and environment in china s manufacturing industry a panel data analysis of 28 sub sectors
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017Co-Authors: Baolong Yuan, Xiaohong ChenAbstract:Abstract Improving Eco-Efficiency of China’s manufacturing industry will be conducive to break the bottleneck of resources and environment constraints of industry development and further the coordinated development of economy and environment. This paper employs the panel data of 28 sub-sectors in China’s manufacturing industry during 2003–2013, divides these sub-sectors into three groups—the high, medium and low Eco-Efficiency industries according to the Eco-Efficiency level, and explores the effects of environmental regulation on technical innovation (“weak” Porter hypothesis) and Eco-Efficiency (“strong” Porter hypothesis) respectively. The results show that: (1) whether environmental regulation can promote the coordinated development of economy and environment in the manufacturing industry is contingent upon the reasonable level of environmental regulation. However, overall, the level of current environmental regulation is not yet sufficient to promote the improvement of Eco-Efficiency. (2) Industry heterogeneity exists in the effects of environmental regulation on technical innovation and Eco-Efficiency, that is, in the high and low Eco-Efficiency groups, the impact of environmental regulation on technical innovation is an inverted “U” type while that on Eco-Efficiency is an “U” type. (3) The impacts of environmental regulation on technical innovation and Eco-Efficiency in the medium Eco-Efficiency group are both “U” type, indicating that moderately enhancing environmental regulation can achieve the win-win situation of economic and environmental performance in this group. Lastly, we provide policy implications for different industries.
Xian Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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assessing regional eco efficiency from the perspective of resource environmental and economic performance in china a bootstrapping approach in global data envelopment analysis
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018Co-Authors: Lin Yang, Xian ZhangAbstract:Abstract Eco-Efficiency has been receiving increasing attention across the world. This paper proposes an extended data envelopment analysis model, which combines global benchmark technology, directional distance function and a bootstrapping approach to investigate the dynamic trends of regional Eco-Efficiency in China from 2003 to 2014. Moreover, a developed slacks-based measure is utilized to decompose the performance fluctuations into resource, environmental and economic efficiency. Then, the key factors responsible for the changes in Eco-Efficiency are explored using the global Malmquist–Luenberger index. The empirical results demonstrate an upward trend of Eco-Efficiency in China. During the study period this trend was high in eastern and northern areas but low in northwestern areas. However, it should be noted that some eco-efficient regions still consume much land, water and energy and emit much environmental pollutants in absolute terms. The whole of China performs well on the economic front, while resource and environmental performances are not encouraging, particularly on environmental efficiency. The eastern and northern regions have experienced the greatest advances in both resource and environmental efficiency, while the undeveloped areas have not shown much progress, which further widens the gaps between developed areas and undeveloped areas. The decomposition of productivity growth indicates that technical progress is the decisive factor in promoting China's Eco-Efficiency, while decreasing management level is the major obstacle hampering the improvement in Eco-Efficiency.
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assessing regional eco efficiency from the perspective of resource environmental and economic performance in china a bootstrapping approach in global data envelopment analysis
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018Co-Authors: Lin Yang, Xian ZhangAbstract:Abstract Eco-Efficiency has been receiving increasing attention across the world. This paper proposes an extended data envelopment analysis model, which combines global benchmark technology, directional distance function and a bootstrapping approach to investigate the dynamic trends of regional Eco-Efficiency in China from 2003 to 2014. Moreover, a developed slacks-based measure is utilized to decompose the performance fluctuations into resource, environmental and economic efficiency. Then, the key factors responsible for the changes in Eco-Efficiency are explored using the global Malmquist–Luenberger index. The empirical results demonstrate an upward trend of Eco-Efficiency in China. During the study period this trend was high in eastern and northern areas but low in northwestern areas. However, it should be noted that some eco-efficient regions still consume much land, water and energy and emit much environmental pollutants in absolute terms. The whole of China performs well on the economic front, while resource and environmental performances are not encouraging, particularly on environmental efficiency. The eastern and northern regions have experienced the greatest advances in both resource and environmental efficiency, while the undeveloped areas have not shown much progress, which further widens the gaps between developed areas and undeveloped areas. The decomposition of productivity growth indicates that technical progress is the decisive factor in promoting China's Eco-Efficiency, while decreasing management level is the major obstacle hampering the improvement in Eco-Efficiency.
Peter Saling - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the basf eco efficiency toolbox holistic evaluation of sustainable solutions
Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences#R##N#Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies, 2017Co-Authors: Bruce Uhlman, Peter SalingAbstract:For successful implementation of sustainability in industry, robust assessments of products and processes are necessary that quantify environmental aspects while also considering a product or processes’ total cost of ownership. Challenges exist as sustainability needs vary greatly according to region, market sector, customer-specific requirements, and stakeholder demands. BASF has developed a toolbox for Eco-Efficiency assessments that addresses the broad range of in-house and external needs, allowing flexibility while ensuring that relevant and sufficient environmental impact and costs are covered. The toolbox is based on standard practice for life cycle assessment but goes further to better support strategic decisions, product development, and marketing. Environmental impact assessment follows ISO 14040 and 14044. The underlying Eco-Efficiency methodology is based primarily on standard assessment models as implemented in the product environmental footprint methodology of the European Union (EU PEF). Impacts are aggregated to an overall environmental impact expressed in terms of person time. Life cycle costs are similarly determined and may be combined with environmental impact to an overall Eco-Efficiency Portfolio and Eco-Efficiency Index. The automated relevance check ensures coverage of main impact categories and environmental impact. Normalization with meaningful figures is applied as well as a weighting scheme that was developed together with the external partner TNS infratest by using a panel weighting approach. Weighting factors are updated on a regular basis and are applicable for all regions of the world. Eco-Efficiency results support strategic business decision-making and customer and external stakeholder engagement based on quantified, credible sustainability assessments.
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how to measure social impacts a socio eco efficiency analysis by the seebalance method
International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2008Co-Authors: Daniela Kolsch, Peter Saling, Andreas Kicherer, Anahi P Grossesommer, Isabell SchmidtAbstract:BASF has, in cooperation with Karlsruhe University, Jena University and the Oko-Institut e.V. (Germany), developed a socio-Eco-Efficiency analysis – the so-called SEEBALANCE®. The objective was the integration of quantified social indicators into the BASF Eco-Efficiency analysis. Many life cycle analyses do not include an assessment of social impacts and effects. However, in order to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of products or processes, it is necessary to include all three dimensions of sustainability. The objective was to develop a tool, comparable to the BASF Eco-Efficiency analysis, which is simple to use by LCA-experts and easy-to-understand for people without any prior experience in the field.
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assessing the environmental hazard potential for life cycle assessment eco efficiency and seebalance 8 pp
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2005Co-Authors: Peter Saling, Roland Maisch, Maurizio Silvani, Natalie KonigAbstract:BASF has developed the Eco-Efficiency analysis tool to address not only strategic issues but also issues posed by the marketplace, politics and research. The goal was to develop a tool for supporting decision-making processes, which is useful for many of applications in the Chemical and other industries. A part of the Eco-Efficiency analysis involves the evaluation of the toxicity and the eco-toxicity potential. Many life cycle analyses do not include an assessment of the toxicity potential nor the eco-toxicity potential. However, in order to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of products and processes, it is often the eco-toxicity potential, which constitutes an important factor with regard to the evaluation of sustainability. The cradle-to-grave approach is also important for this calculation and will be done based on a database that will be discussed also in this paper. The method used for the determination of the eco-toxicity potential follows the basic rules of the European Union Risk Ranking System (EURAM). The other criteria of the ecological fingerprint are combined with the economical results in the Eco-Efficiency portfolio. The results of the studies are shown in a simple diagram, the Eco-Efficiency portfolio. Therefore ecological data are summarized in a special manner as described previously. It has been shown that the weighting factors, which are used in our method, have a negligible impact on the results. In most cases, the input data have the dominant impact on the results of the study. The eco-toxicity assessment will be a part of the ecological calculation. Because of the cradle-to-grave approach, substances of the whole life cycle can be identified that might have a toxic impact to the environment. The results can be used for optimization of the process. The new calculation model allows the assessment of eco-toxicological substances in an appropriate and easy way. In most of the cases the data from a European safety data sheet are sufficient for the calculation. The normalized data can be incorporated very easily in the ecological fingerprint and in the drawing of the Eco-Efficiency portfolio. LCA in combination with the evaluation of the eco-toxicity potential will for reasons of optimizing for least impact become more important in certain cases. Especially in those systems where water emissions are likely, the use of the evaluation system in the Eco-Efficiency analysis is recommended. This new methodology allows the calculation of eco-toxicity potentials in a short time with a small set of input information. The analytical Eco-Efficiency tool helps in implementing more sustainable processes and products in the future.
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industrial applications using basf eco efficiency analysis perspectives on green engineering principles
Environmental Science & Technology, 2003Co-Authors: David R Shonnard, Andreas Kicherer, Peter SalingAbstract:Life without chemicals would be inconceivable, but the potential risks and impacts to the environment associated with chemical production and chemical products are viewed critically. Eco-Efficiency analysis considers the economic and life cycle environmental effects of a product or process, giving these equal weighting. The major elements of the environmental assessment include primary energy use, raw materials utilization, emissions to all media, toxicity, safety risk, and land use. The relevance of each environmental category and also for the economic versus the environmental impacts is evaluated using national emissions and economic data. The Eco-Efficiency analysis method of BASF is briefly presented, and results from three applications to chemical processes and products are summarized. Through these applications, the Eco-Efficiency analyses mostly confirm the 12 Principles listed in Anastas and Zimmerman (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2003, 37(5), 94A), with the exception that, in one application, production systems based on bio-based feedstocks were not the most eco-efficient as compared to those based on fossil resources. Over 180 Eco-Efficiency analyses have been conducted at BASF, and their results have been used to support strategic decision-making, marketing, research and development, and communication with external parties. Eco-Efficiency analysis, as one important strategy and success factor in sustainable development, will continue to be a very strong operational tool at BASF.
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eco efficiency analysis by basf the method
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2002Co-Authors: Peter Saling, Andreas Kicherer, Isabell Schmidt, Brigitte Dittrichkramer, Rolf Wittlinger, Winfried Zombik, Wolfgang Schrott, Silke SchmidtAbstract:Intention, Goal, Scope, Background BASF has developed the tool of Eco-Efficiency analysis to address not only strategic issues, but also issues posed by the marketplace, politics and research. It was a goal to develop a tool for decision-making processes which is useful for a lot of applications in chemistry and other industries. Objectives. The objectives were the development of a common tool, which is usable in a simple way by LCA-experts and understandable by a lot of people without any experience in this field. The results should be shown in such a way that complex studies are understandable in one view.
