Avaliação da eficiência ambiental: estudo de caso de uma empresa petroquímica com utilização da função da distância direcional

Abstract

Environmental efficiency can contribute to ensuring the sustainability of productive systems by seeking the optimization of natural resources and the reduction of the negative impact of human activities on the environment. Evaluating the environmental efficiency of companies is relevant to promoting corporate responsibility and encouraging more sustainable practices, aiming at preserving ecosystems and the well-being of present and future generations. This study aims to evaluate the environmental efficiency of a Petrochemical company over a fiveyear period (2018 to 2022). The environmental efficiency of six productive plants of the company is analyzed, grouped by type of product produced (chemical, polyethylene, and polypropylene). The Directional Distance Function (DDF), which is a variation of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), is used to calculate environmental efficiency, taking into account the generation of desirable and undesirable outcomes associated with production processes. The results highlight that the median efficiency of the chemical production plant is 94.80%. The median efficiency of the three polyethylene plants is 51.30%, 35.40%, and 50.20%, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the Slurry technology, used in polyethylene production, has negative environmental impacts. Finally, it was found that the median efficiency of the two polypropylene plants is 96.20% and 94.20%, respectively. This research contributes to academia by expanding studies on the application of DEA with DDF in the petrochemical industry. Additionally, it offers valuable insights for managers by assisting them in evaluating plant results, providing a basis for continuous improvement decision-making and future investments.