Evaluating eco-efficiency of beverage packaging materials: a data envelopment analysis approach

Abstract

Eco-efficiency represents a valuable instrument for analysing the efficiency of the economic activities relating to the consumption of nature's goods and services. This is particularly important because natural resources mean key characteristics of the environment required to the sustainable economic development and have a great value for the humankind. Bearing this in mind, as well as the significant environmental impact of packaging, the authors introduced the data envelopment analysis - DEA method, for evaluating eco-efficiency in the case of beverage packaging. The results of the paper indicate not only that DEA method can be adjusted to the context of main beverage packaging materials (glass, cardboard, polyethylene, PVC, Q pack, PET, polycarbonate, tinplate and aluminium) but also that DEA method could be a valuable tool for achieving sustainable packaging manufacturing by providing the most eco-friendly and sustainable choice of material for beverage packaging. Moreover, the obtained results show that polyethylene and glass have the highest eco-efficiency due to the relatively negligible impact on the environment and the relatively high value added.