Eco-innovation measurement of enterprises - validation of the LCA-based approach

Purpose: The primary aim of the article is to present, examine and discuss an alternative approach to the eco-innovation measurement of enterprises, based on the methodology of life cycle assessment (LCA). Design/methodology/approach: The simplified three-step approach, based on the LCA methodology, was applied to perform the analysis. It consists of the following subsequent stages: environmental assessment, environmental profile of an enterprise and contribution analysis. The environmental profile of the enterprise was calculated using the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) method. Findings: A medium size enterprise manufacturing rubber granulates (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, EPDM and styrene-butadiene rubber, SBR) was covered by the research. The research proved that the analysed enterprise has the most detrimental impact on the environment in the following impact categories: marine ecotoxicity, natural land transformation and freshwater ecotoxicity. These result predominantly from SBR rubber granulate production. Consequently, due to the specificity of the manufacturing process to be more eco-innovative, the enterprise needs to apply more energy-efficient technologies. Originality/value: This is a fully original research paper that validates an alternative approach to measure and stimulate the implementation of eco-innovation at the micro-level. It complements the currently existing methodologies by taking life cycle and the supply chain perspective into consideration, and thus supports decision-makers in the implementation of the principles of circular economy