Eco-efficiency maturity model: a practical assessment tool for managers

The principle of producing more goods with less environmental impact and less use of resources is called eco-efficiency. This concept has objectives that consider environmental issues and has prominence in terms of protection of industrial efficiency and stimulating economic growth. For these reasons, eco-efficiency is an important topic in managers' agenda today. This study develops an easy-to-use and systematic tool for managers to assess the eco-efficiency maturity of their business processes. The tool was developed in three steps. In the planning step, the user group, scope, aim, and success criteria of the tool were defined. In the second step, main and sub-process areas, maturity levels, and cell texts were defined. In the last step, the developed eco-efficiency maturity model was verified with expert feedbacks and then validated by real-world application in three companies. The developed tool was designed to be sector-independent. It guides managers, particularly to understand their current situation in terms of eco-efficiency from performance, structural and awareness perspectives and to inform their strategic decision-making for improvement.