Measuring the environmental performance of the feed production of the livestock industry

Constructing an environmental performance index from an economic perspective

Master thesis (2022)

Authors

J.N.M. Russell Mechanical Engineering

Contributors

F.A. Beelaerts van Blokland Mechanical Engineering (supervisor 1)
R.R. Negenborn Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (coach)
J Vleugel Transport and Planning - CEG (coach)
Faculty
Mechanical Engineering
Copyright: © 2022 Julia Russell
Performance measurement Environmental indicators Livestock feed Composite indicator
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Published Date

27-06-2022

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Abstract
Purpose - The aim of this paper is to propose a method for performance measurement of the livestock feed industry from an environmental and economic perspective. There is a knowledge gap both in the literature and society in the field of performance measurement of the livestock feed industry with environmental concerns. Livestock feed companies need support in the decision-making process to produce environmentally sustainable livestock feed at as low as possible costs.
Design/methodology/approach – An environmental performance index for livestock feed is constructed based on techniques of the min-max transformation, the analytic hierarchy process and simple additive weighting. The verified environmental performance index for livestock feed is brought into practice; different scenarios, which all represent a feed composition, are quantitatively compared to a benchmark feed composition. The environmental performance index is validated with an uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis.
Findings – The constructed environmental performance index for livestock feed is assessed by comparing nine scenarios against a benchmark feed composition. The results indicate that the environmental performance index for the livestock feed industry is technically feasible and effective to measure the performance of the livestock feed industry from an environmental and economic perspective.
Research implications – The constructed environmental performance index for
livestock feed can serve as a decision-making tool for livestock feed companies. As a response to climate regulations and a market pull, this paper provides a tool for livestock feed companies to select livestock feed compositions with the best performance based on environmental sustainability and economic performance.
Originality/value – A new performance measurement method is designed for an
environmental performance index for the livestock feed industry. From the literature, environmental sustainability variables are identified. The data on the environmental performance are obtained from a public database as well as a livestock feed company. The created index can contribute to decision-making in the livestock feed industry.