Evaluation of the eco-efficiency of the industrial system in China considering regional heterogeneity and dynamics

This research evaluates the eco-efficiency of provincial industrial systems in China using the innovative Meta-frontier slacks-based measure dynamics network data envelopment analysis (Meta-frontier SBM-DNDEA) method. The findings reveal that the overall eco-efficiency level of these systems is unsatisfactory, with substantial room for improvement. In particular, the western region lags in clean production technology, resulting in a significant technological gap between provinces. Furthermore, industrial eco-efficiency performs best at a medium scale of total industrial output value, with larger scales not performing as well. The study concludes that outdated production technology and low management levels are the primary causes of poor eco-efficiency. This study not only identifies key areas for technological and managerial advancements but also provides actionable strategies to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impacts. The findings are significant as they offer new insights into regional disparities and propose targeted interventions to support sustainable industrial development in China.