A multiple-criteria environmental impact assessment for the plastic injection molding process: a methodology

This paper proposes a multiple-criteria methodology for evaluating environmental impacts in the plastic injection molding process (PIMP) and incorporates the findings of an empirical study conducted in Hong Kong. The paper identifies and explains various indicators of environmental impact assessment and establishes a multiple-criteria rating matrix. It then elaborates on the implementation of a pilot program and discusses the relevance of the methodology inside and outside of the work environment. Results show that the methodology provides manufacturers with a feasible means to assess their environmental performance and perform benchmarking analysis. The methodology can also be modified and applied in different industry sectors. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.