Sustainable performance measurement in brick kilns: Proposal of an index with objective and subjective data

This research aims to construct a sustainable performance index for small brick businesses using both objective (emissions measurement) and subjective data (opinions and perceptions of business performance) throughout the brick manufacturing process. The proposed sustainable performance index, which includes both subjective and objective data, generates a more comprehensive index by integrating diverse types of data. To collect information, a structured questionnaire was developed and applied face-to-face to 142 brick-making business owners located in five metropolitan municipalities of Oaxaca (ZMO), Mexico. The measurement of polluting emissions was carried out on-site using Temptop 2000 and Testo 340 equipment. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted with the collected data and the reliability and validity of the scales were tested. The results present a sustainable performance index that integrates the economic dimension, covering commercial and financial phases; the environmental dimension, subdivided into process emissions and production inputs, and the social performance dimension. The component that scored lowest was production inputs, while the component that scored highest was financial performance. The municipality with the worst ranking position is Santa Cruz Amilpas, and the best-positioned municipality is San Andrés Huayapam. These results are significant for the government, producers, and authorities as they provide a basis for defining strategies aimed at sustainable brick production. This includes incorporating technology to enhance economic returns, mitigating negative environmental and human health impacts, and ensuring appropriate social development for employees.