Environmental Performance Evaluation in the Oil Industry: A Proposal Based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

The activities of the oil production chain have always been tolerated, and their impact on the environment justified in the name of development. However, growing pressure for management that can incorporate environmental, social, and economic aspects into its growth has permeated the daily lives of companies that are potential sources of impact. The objective of this study was to develop a concept for environmental performance assessment for the oil industry to assist managers in reducing environmental impacts, using environmental efficiency indices based on DEA-BCC as a reference. The results revealed that only 21.1% of the companies surveyed are environmentally inefficient, and that the variables, among those chosen, that most influenced the consolidation of environmental efficiency were the amount of energy, water, and solid waste generated. The environmental performance indices were satisfactory; however, the search for a balance between economic development and the environment should be the main challenge for this sector in the coming years.