ECO-EFFICIENCY OF THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: EVIDENCE FROM MAP TA PHUT IE, THAILAND

Abstract

An environmental efficiency analysis of chemical industrial enterprises in Thailand was studied by using measurement indicators that reflect the relationship of the economy and the environment. The economic and environmental indicators for 50 enterprises over a 3-year period was monitored which composed of electricity consumption, water consumption, level of wastewater discharge and the measurement of economic indicators. The economic indicators of the total income of each enterprise had a tendency to increase continuously. The third-year total expenses were higher than in the first and second years. With regard to the environmental indicators, which were water consumption and the wastewater discharge increased. These meant a water treatment plant should be applied. The discharged wastewater had the highest score. The second highest level was the water consumption and the third was energy consumption, respectively. It was found that the environmental efficiency of the water consumption level, wastewater discharge, and the energy consumption level had a tendency to increase. When analyzing this tendency in environmental economic efficiency by using a snapshot graph, it has shown every operational indicator in the 3-year period showed signs of sustainability. This is due to the amount of continuously increasing income. When considering key performance’s tendencies, all is found to be positioned in the Half Non-Eco-Efficiency in the second year. This changed to Full-Non-Eco-Efficiency in the third year. These showed that development is not based on sustainability. There are issues with the increased operational costs, the expensive resources and problems derived from the wastewater. The recommendation from these results is to provide reducing the high operational costs of chemical industrial enterprises as well.