Eco-efficiency Evaluation of the Eco-industrial Cluster

This study examines both economic and environmental performance of an industrial park using the eco-efficiency indicator framework. The case study involves Chang Hua Coastal Industrial Park (CHCIP) and its surrounding area in central Taiwan. An eco-industrial cluster consisting of seven companies and anchoring a large steel mill was identified for recovering of waste generated into construction materials. (It was referred to as being 'eco-industrialization' hereinafter). The eco-efficiency of individual companies and the overall eco-efficiency of the total system were quantified using one economic indicator (after-tax profit) and five environmental indicators (energy consumption, water consumption, raw material consumption, CO2 emission, and total waste generated). Five eco-efficiency ratios were estimated under three scenarios of the park: before the clustering system is formed, after the clustering system is formed, and a future optimum scenario (i.e. for situations the goal of "zero emissions" is being achieved). Results of this study demonstrate that overall eco-efficiency of the cluster following eco-industrialization could result in increases of up to 30-40% over the pre-eco-industrialized level