Study on eco-efficiency optimization based on LCA-MFCA integration method: a case study on the cement industry

Abstract

Cement production in China suffers from low eco-efficiency due to high coal and electricity consumption and substantial emissions. This study proposes a novel approach integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) to improve both economic and environmental performance. The method includes: (1) quantifying material, economic, and environmental losses using LCA and MFCA; (2) identifying improvement strategies through Pareto analysis, hypothesis testing, and expert input; and (3) validating results using an empirical case study. Applied to a cement company in Xinjiang, the approach increased eco-efficiency from 0.8737 to 1.0519, demonstrating synchronous economic and environmental gains. This is one of the first studies to apply LCA–MFCA integration in China’s cement sector.