An AHP-Based Procedure for Model Selection for Eco-Efficiency Assessment

Modelling eco-efficiency is becoming a wide field of research shown by a large body of scientific literature on the subjects concerned. This paper, after performing a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify existing models for process eco-efficiency assessments, provides a methodology, based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, for choosing the eco-efficiency assessment model to be used for a given application (process, product, or service). For the SLR, papers from the databases Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct were used. Forty articles were considered for this study, using as the main selection criterion articles that present an eco-efficiency assessment model, since the purpose was to survey the types of existing models that are used to assess processes, products or services for eco-efficiency. With the systematic review carried out, it was possible to identify the types of models that exist and how they are used in different sectors, always aiming to identify if what was analyzed is eco-efficient and what points need to be improved. The proposed AHP-based methodology was applied to a numerical model to outline how to apply the methodology. The approach was easy to use and effective in identifying the proper eco-efficiency model.