<p>What is Ecopreneurship? This thesis proposes to define ecopreneurship in theory, and to increase the understanding of it in practice. Ecopreneurship can be seen as one of several ways of doing business in a more environmentally friendly way. It is conzeptualized as the intersection of entrepreneurship theory and sustainability studies. A non-exhaustive list of three sub-concepts of Ecopreneurship is identified and discussed: Eco-Innovation, Eco-Commitment and Eco-Opportunity.</p><p>In addition to the theoretical framing, this study also includes an empirical part, in which by means of multiple case studies, insight is gained on how Ecopreneurship and its sub-concepts manifest in practice. Apart from the three concepts already identified in the theoretical part of this study, the themes of social equity, indirect Ecopreneurship and the time aspect of Eco-Innovation emerged from the analysis of the case studies. This thesis presents an emerging framework for ecopreneurship, which still has gaps to be filled if accepted as a framework.</p>

What is Ecopreneurship? This thesis proposes to define ecopreneurship in theory, and to increase the understanding of it in practice. Ecopreneurship can be seen as one of several ways of doing business in a more environmentally friendly way. It is conzeptualized as the intersection of entrepreneurship theory and sustainability studies. A non-exhaustive list of three sub-concepts of Ecopreneurship is identified and discussed: Eco-Innovation, Eco-Commitment and Eco-Opportunity. In addition to the theoretical framing, this study also includes an empirical part, in which by means of multiple case studies, insight is gained on how Ecopreneurship and its sub-concepts manifest in practice. Apart from the three concepts already identified in the theoretical part of this study, the themes of social equity, indirect Ecopreneurship and the time aspect of Eco-Innovation emerged from the analysis of the case studies. This thesis presents an emerging framework for ecopreneurship, which still has gaps to be filled if accepted as a framework.

Title: “A Study of Factors That Affect Green Purchase”   Due to the environmental issues, green products have got more attention during the latest years and the availability of such products is increasing in many food stores. The appearance of eco-label assists the consumers in the store to buy eco-friendly products which are less harmful to the environment. Eco-labels which are frequently available in the food stores are; The Nordic eco-label (Svanen), Krav, The Euro Flower, MSC label (Marine stewardship council) and Bra Miljöval.  Governments in some countries are supporting these labels to ensure the sustainable development and a better quality of life for everyone, and for the generations to come. A question, which arises here, is that what compels the consumers to choose eco-labelled products over conventional ones. We have short-listed several factors during literature review which can influence the consumers green purchase behavior and these factors are; Eco-motivation, Eco-knowledge, Gender, Peer influence, Price and Shelf space.    The purpose of this study is to get a deeper understanding of the factors that can affect green purchase of food products in the store. Thus our main research question that we want to answer with our study is: “Which are the most important factors that influence the purchase behavior of eco-labelled products?” Along with this main research question we are also interested to know if ‘shelf space’ is an important factor that can affect the consumer’s choice of eco-labelled products in the store. Due to lack of data there is still no clear understanding about the role of shelf space in the purchase decision of green products. To answer these questions we will investigate all these factors and try to understand their influence on consumer green purchase behavior.  This quantitative study is carried out in Umeå, Sweden with 150 respondents and focuses mainly on the food market consumers. We stand on objectivist position for this study and we believe that cross-sectional research design is most suitable to fulfill our research purpose. We developed several null hypotheses and for this purpose we distributed our research questionnaire at the entrance of different super markets in Umeå, Sweden to collect our data from the respondents. We applied convenience sampling with simple quota to this research. We evaluated the gathered data with help of SPSS. Results proved that eco-motivation and shelf space plays vital role (positive correlated) in the purchase decision of eco-labelled products. We have provided statistical evidence that eco-motivation and shelf space induce actual purchase of green products. Eco-knowledge shows to induce interest in eco-labelled product but does not help in actual purchase of eco-labelled products. Surprisingly price and gender has not shown any influence on the consumer green purchase. We believe that our findings and recommendations can contribute in the area of consumer’s ecological behavior research. Due to our sampling technique (convenience) and small size of our respondent we cannot generalize the results of this study.   Key words: Purchase decision, Green marketing, Eco-labeling, Shelf space, Eco-motivation, Eco-knowledge, Gender, Price, Peer influence

Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2017-08-10T14:10:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Gary Renato Vargas Canales.pdf: 4873826 bytes, checksum: b22c7b4e092c0e36518306a25aaa8bdb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-10T14:10:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gary Renato Vargas Canales.pdf: 4873826 bytes, checksum: b22c7b4e092c0e36518306a25aaa8bdb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Underwater acoustics have an unrealized potential for multicomponent biotic and abiotic ecosystem characterization. A variety of methods (e.g., backscattering differences, clustering, Gaussian model) are currently used for multifrequency classification. This study aims at proposing and implementing a method based on the distribution of different groups of organisms echoes on multifrequency spatial planes, to be applied on acoustic data collected around oceanic islands of the Northeast Brazil. Initially, echoes of different groups of organism are defined a priori using in situ sampling. Then we apply an objective separation criteria based in the maximum difference of cumulated energy in each bi-frequency component, to maximize energy allocation within a given group when compared to the nearest one. This method was applied on four frequencies (38, 70, 120 and 200 kHz) data collected in the frame of the ABRAÇOS (Acoustics along the BRAzilian COaSt) project, around Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha and Atoll das Rocas, an area characterized by a low productivity but high biodiversity. For this process, up to five bi-frequency components were used for group discrimination. By applying the method we could discriminated six groups: Fish like (Sv38 ~ Sv70 ~ Sv120), two types of High Resonant at 38 kHz (Sv38 > Sv70 > Sv120 > Sv200) associated to gelatinous, Fluid Like (Sv38 < Sv70 < Sv120) associated to crustacean macrozooplankton, High Resonant at 70 kHz (Sv38 < Sv70 > Sv120 > Sv200) associated to algae, and a group of Unclassified echoes. Results are coherent in terms of distribution pattern of each group. Among other we could reveal the importance of gelatinous that were the dominant group in the vicinity of oceanic islands where it formed a dense layer above the thermocline. These results open new perspectives to improve knowledge on the patterns of distribution and the interaction of a variety of functional groups in this and other aquatic ecosystems. / A acústica submarina tem um potencial ainda não aproveitado no que diz respeito à caracterização da variedade de componentes bióticos dos ecossistemas. Atualmente muitos métodos (e.g., diferença da refletividade, modelos gaussianos) são usados para classificação multifrequência. Este estudo tem o objetivo de propor e implementar um método baseado na distribuição espacial multifrequência dos ecos de diferentes grupos de organismos, com aplicação em ilhas oceânicas do Nordeste do Brasil. Inicialmente, os ecos dos diferentes grupos de organismos são definidos através de amostras obtidas in situ. Posteriormente, aplica-se um critério de separação objetiva baseado na máxima diferença de energia acumulada em cada componente de duas frequências para maximizar a quantidade de energia dentro de cada grupo, quando comparadas com o grupo mais próximo. Este método foi aplicado usando dados coletados com quatro frequências (38, 70, 120 e 200 kHz) durante a campanha ABRAÇOS (Acoustics along the BRAzilian COaSt), no entorno do Arquipélago Fernando de Noronha (FDN) e Atol das Rocas (ADR), uma região caracterizada pela baixa produtividade e alta biodiversidade. Durante este processo, foram utilizados até cinco componentes bi-frequência. A aplicação desta metodologia permitiu a separação de 6 grupos: Peixes (Sv38 ~ Sv70 ~ Sv120), dois tipos de Ressonantes a 38 kHz (Sv 38 > Sv70 > Sv120 > Sv200) associados com gelatinosos, Fluid-like (Sv38 < Sv70 < Sv120) associados com o zooplâncton, Ressonantes a 70 kHz (Sv38 < Sv70 > Sv120 > Sv200), associados com algas e um grupo de ecos “Não definidos”. Os resultados são coerentes em termos dos padrões de distribuição de cada um dos grupos. Pode-se observar a importância dos gelatinosos, que são o grupo dominante ao redor de FDN e ADR, formando uma densa camada sobre a termoclina. Estes resultados abrem novas possibilidades a serem exploradas acerca do conhecimento dos padrões de distribuição e interação de vários grupos biológicos em ecossistemas aquáticos.

Actuellement, l’industrie chimique est confrontée au défi de la production durable qui exige une évolution depuis la réduction de polluants pour les procédés existants vers une écologie industrielle qui permet l’équilibre entre le développement économique, sociale et environnemental. Ajouté aux exigences actuelles pesant sur la conception des procédés, la prise en compte des contraintes environnementales dès la phase amont du processus de conception. Cette exigence clé couplée aux enjeux actuels pour la conception préliminaire ont conduit à des changements par rapport à la conception classique des procédés, il y a un accent accru sur la recherche d’innovation et d’écoinnovation pour développer des nouveaux concepts, de nouvelles technologies et de nouveaux procédés. La question centrale sur la façon d’améliorer la créativité dans la phase de conception préliminaire nécessite des recherches plus poussées sur les méthodologies d’aide à la génération de solutions innovante et éco-innovante. Ainsi, dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons développé une méthodologie pour la formulation et la résolution de problèmes d’éco-innovation basée sur une approche à base de conflits. Ce cadre permet de traiter les exigences multi-objectifs et la nature combinatoire complexe de la phase de recherche de concepts de solutions. La méthodologie développée reflète la nature des problèmes à traiter avec de nombreuses contradictions (conflits) à résoudre simultanément. Dans ce contexte, les méthodes actuelles atteignent rapidement leurs limites car elles ne résolvent qu’un seul conflit à la fois. Or il devient très difficile (voire impossible) de faire émerger une contradiction unique des situations problématiques complexes telles que nous en rencontrons en génie des procédés. La méthodologie proposée pour traiter la problématique de multi-contradictions pour l’écoconception se divise en deux étapes principales. D’un part, une première cadre d’analyse pour la formulation des contradictions en s’appuyant sur une version adaptée d’OTSM-TRIZ. Il permet la représentation graphique d’un problème et intégré une méthode pour limiter la situation aux contradictions principales. D’un autre part, la résolution des contradictions principales se décompose en deux sous étapes. Dans un premier temps, la résolution individuelle de chaque contradiction au travers d’un outil alliant la simplicité conceptuelle des contradictions de TRIZ et les solutions concrètes que proposent les effets et phénomènes de la physique, chimie, biologie. Dans un deuxième temps, nous proposons un processus d’agrégation des solutions afin d’obtenir une solution finale plus intégrée. Un cas d’étude sur la réduction des polluants en sortie d’étape de gazéification de la biomasse est présenté afin d’illustrée l’approche. / In recent years, the chemical industry is facing the challenge of sustainable production in order to create a balance between the economic, social and environmental development. This shift requires an evolution from the reduction of pollutants for existing processes to industrial ecology. In the design process, this shift demands that the current requirements and the environmental constraints should be taken into account in the early stages. At these stages, however, there is an increased emphasis on innovation and eco-innovation to develop new concepts, new technologies and new processes, thereby limiting the problem-solving ability of the traditional design methodologies. Hence, there is a great necessity for new methodologies in order to develop innovative and eco-innovative solutions. Consequently, in this research, we developed a methodology for the formulation and solution of ecoinnovation problems based on a conflict approach. This framework can handle multi-objective requirements with the combinatorial complexity of the search phase of solution concepts. Thus, the methodology considers the problem of solving many contradictions (conflicts) simultaneously. In this context, current approaches quickly reach their limits because they solve one conflict at a time or it is very difficult to define only one contradiction in complex problems, such as those in process engineering. The proposed methodology for treating the problem of multi-contradictions for eco-design is divided into two main steps. On one hand, an analytical framework for the formulation of contradictions based on an adapted version of OTSM-TRIZ, which provides a graphical representation of a problem and integrated method to reduce the problem situation to the main contradictions. On the other hand, the resolution of contradictions which is itself divided into two sub-steps. At first, the resolution of each individual contradiction through a tool that combines conceptual simplicity of TRIZ contradictions and the practical solutions using the physics, chemical and biological effects and phenomena. In a second step, we propose an aggregation process solution to obtain a more integrated final solution. A case study about the reduction of pollutants at output stage gasification of biomass is presented to illustrate this approach.

Para que a sustentabilidade seja gerenciada e praticada de maneira efetiva, ela deve ser mensurada, utilizando-se de métodos de avaliação da sustentabilidade. Estão disponíveis diferentes métodos de avaliação, que geralmente reduzem o resultado desse levantamento à indicadores de desempenho ambiental, econômico e social (POPEA; ANNANDALE; MORISON-SAUNDERSB, 2004). Uma das denominações mais bem aceitas e difundidas para a conjunção da dimensão ambiental e econômica é conhecida por avaliação de eco eficiência (AEE). Eco eficiência é o \"aspecto da sustentabilidade que relaciona o desempenho ambiental de um sistema de produto ao valor do sistema de produto\" (ISO, 2012). Estão disponíveis diferentes métodos de AEE, porém sem evidência das suas semelhanças e particularidades e como essas características influenciam na escolha do método mais adequado de AEE em relação às potenciais aplicações O objetivo desta pesquisa é, portanto, analisar e indicar os tipos de métodos de avaliação de eco eficiência (AEE) mais adequados para ações gerenciais nas quais caibam tais abordagens. Foram selecionados onze métodos de AEE, a partir do estabelecimento de critérios de caracterização desses métodos, a saber: BASF, Bayer, EcoWater, Hahn et al., Kuosmanen e Kortelainen, MIPS, NRTEE, UN ESCAP, UN, TU Delft, e WBCSD. Identificaram-se, ainda, quatro potenciais aplicações: (i) Monitoramento de processo com vistas à melhoria contínua; (ii) Selecção e classificação de produtos; (iii) Atendimento a requisitos legais e outros requisitos; e, (iv) Marketing, rotulagem de produtos e comunicação ambiental. A partir dos elementos metodológicos estabelecidos pela norma ISSO 14045 (2012) e do conhecimento obtido dos métodos de AEE, determinaram-se quatro requisitos pelos quais os métodos e os potenciais aplicações foram avaliados: (i) Tipo de indicador de desempenho ambiental; (ii) Tipo de indicador de valor de sistema de produto; (iii) Abrangência de aplicação; e, (iv) Tipo de indicador de eco eficiência. Aplicando-se estes requisitos nos métodos de AEE e nos potenciais usos, concluiu-se que quanto à aplicações em termos de monitoramento de processos com vistas à melhoria continua os métodos de AEE recomendados foram Bayer, NRTEE, WBCSD e UN. Para situações de seleção e classificação de produtos os métodos BASF, EcoWater, Kuosmanen e Kortelainen, MIPS, Hahn et al., TU Delft, UN ESCAP e UN demonstraram ter boa aderência. No que se refere a usos voltados ao atendimento de requisitos legais e/ou de outras naturezas, os métodos NRTEE, WBCSD e UN são os mais indicados. Em aplicações de marketing, rotulagem e comunicação foram indicados os métodos BASF, EcoWater e MIPS. Finalmente, concluiu-se que, para a escolha adequada da metodologia para uma AEE, conhecimento prévio das características de cada abordagem é necessário. / It is necessary to measure sustainability to effectively manage and practice it. This measurement is possible by using sustainability assessment methods. Different evaluation methods are avalible, which generally result in environmental, economic and social performance indicators (POPPEA; ANNANDALE; MORISON-SAUNDERSB, 2004). The eco-efficieny assessment (EEA) is one of the most accepted and disseminated donominations of the conjunction of environmental and economic dimensions. Eco-efficiency is the \"aspect of sustainability relating the environmental performance of a product system to its product system value\" (ISO, 2012). Different EEA methods are available, however lack evidence of their similarities and particularities and how these features influence the choice of the most appropriate EEA method for certain potential applications. The objective of this research is therefore to analyze and indicate the types of EEA methods most suitable in management applications. Eleven EEA methods were selected by the establishment of characterization criterias of these methods: BASF, Bayer, EcoWater, Hahn et al., Kuosmanen and Kortelainen, MIPS, NRTEE, UN ESCAP, UN, TU Delft, and WBCSD. Four potential applications were also identified: (i) process monitoring for continuous improvement; (ii) product selection and classification; (iii) compliance to legal and/or other requirements; and (iv) marketing, product labeling and environmental communication. Based on the methodological elements set out by the standard ISO 14045 and the knowledge obtained from EEA methods, four requirements were determined for which the methods and potential applications were evaluated: (i) Type of environmental performance indicator, (ii) Type of product value system indicator, (iii) Scope of application Scope; and (vi) Type indicator of eco-efficiency. The application of the requirements to the AEE methods and potential uses led to the conclusion that for monitoring of processes for continuous improvement the recommended EEA methods are Bayer, NRTEE, WBCSD and UN. For the product selection and classification situations methods BASF, EcoWater, Kuosmanen and Kortelainen, MIPS, Hahn et al., TU Delft, UN ESCAP and UN have shown to be most suitable. Regarding the use aimed at complying with legal and/or other requirements, methods NRTEE, WBCSD and UN are most indicated. In marketing, labeling and communication application the methods BASF, EcoWater and MIPS were recommended. Finally, it was concluded that for an appropriate EEA method choice previous knowledge on the methods approach is necessary.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T17:05:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 8 / Nenhuma / Este estudo tem como objetivo propor um instrumento de diagnóstico de ecoeficiência. Trata-se de um mecanismo para obtenção de dados para a análise qualitativa da performance ambiental. A pesquisa é motivada pelo fato de que as preocupações atuais se sobrepõem às inquietações relativas aos impactos ecológicos e aos danos causados à natureza, e evidenciam o anseio da sociedade à melhoria da qualidade e preservação da vida humana. Considerando que a melhor solução para os impactos ambientais será sempre a prevenção, oportunizou-se este estudo focado no desenvolvimento de um instrumento para o diagnóstico do uso da ecoeficiência. A partir da revisão bibliográfica estabeleceram-se as características da ecoeficiência, as quais compuseram o instrumento proposto. Foram feitas duas aplicações piloto em empresas produtoras de móveis estofados, produtos que têm gerado, ao longo e no final de suas vidas, uma considerável parcela de resíduos a serem descartados no meio-ambiente, grandes desperdícios com a produção inefic

As a result of widespread urban development over the past two decades, global wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. This thesis develops a series of strategies for protecting wetland ecosystems from the ecological consequences that cascade through an ecosystem as a result of such development. This thesis is based on the paired assumptions that ecosystems represent networks of linked processes that operate across both local and global scales, and that the ecological integrity of any ecosystem can be maintained (a) only if the physical integrity of an ecosystem’s constituent processes is maintained, and (b) only if damage occurring at one ecological scale is prevented from affecting processes occurring at another. Thus, the strategies proposed here are multi-scalar and implemented at both the scale of the site and at the broader watershed scale. The strategies developed in this thesis focus on maintaining the physical integrity of the local wetlands as a means of protecting the processes that occur within the broader wetland ecosystem. The thesis proposes that wetland sites might be best protected from the effects of urban development by implementing a series of landscape interventions that provide the ecosystem with the means to reorient itself in new ecological relationships. Instead of attempting to recreate and control a complex set of conditions by imposing a deterministic architectural solution on the site, this strategy seeds new processes and new structural relationships such that the ecosystem reorganizes itself according to its own structural logic and grows into new stable relationships according to conditions that arise out of those processes. Because this approach generates a series of self-sustaining processes, human intervention is minimized beyond the initial stages. The stategies proposed here will be explored in the context of proposals recently announced by oil companies to develop ecologically sensitive wetland sites located on the Athabasca River in north-eastern Alberta.

As a result of widespread urban development over the past two decades, global wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. This thesis develops a series of strategies for protecting wetland ecosystems from the ecological consequences that cascade through an ecosystem as a result of such development. This thesis is based on the paired assumptions that ecosystems represent networks of linked processes that operate across both local and global scales, and that the ecological integrity of any ecosystem can be maintained (a) only if the physical integrity of an ecosystem’s constituent processes is maintained, and (b) only if damage occurring at one ecological scale is prevented from affecting processes occurring at another. Thus, the strategies proposed here are multi-scalar and implemented at both the scale of the site and at the broader watershed scale. The strategies developed in this thesis focus on maintaining the physical integrity of the local wetlands as a means of protecting the processes that occur within the broader wetland ecosystem. The thesis proposes that wetland sites might be best protected from the effects of urban development by implementing a series of landscape interventions that provide the ecosystem with the means to reorient itself in new ecological relationships. Instead of attempting to recreate and control a complex set of conditions by imposing a deterministic architectural solution on the site, this strategy seeds new processes and new structural relationships such that the ecosystem reorganizes itself according to its own structural logic and grows into new stable relationships according to conditions that arise out of those processes. Because this approach generates a series of self-sustaining processes, human intervention is minimized beyond the initial stages. The stategies proposed here will be explored in the context of proposals recently announced by oil companies to develop ecologically sensitive wetland sites located on the Athabasca River in north-eastern Alberta.

Para que a sustentabilidade seja gerenciada e praticada de maneira efetiva, ela deve ser mensurada, utilizando-se de métodos de avaliação da sustentabilidade. Estão disponíveis diferentes métodos de avaliação, que geralmente reduzem o resultado desse levantamento à indicadores de desempenho ambiental, econômico e social (POPEA; ANNANDALE; MORISON-SAUNDERSB, 2004). Uma das denominações mais bem aceitas e difundidas para a conjunção da dimensão ambiental e econômica é conhecida por avaliação de eco eficiência (AEE). Eco eficiência é o \"aspecto da sustentabilidade que relaciona o desempenho ambiental de um sistema de produto ao valor do sistema de produto\" (ISO, 2012). Estão disponíveis diferentes métodos de AEE, porém sem evidência das suas semelhanças e particularidades e como essas características influenciam na escolha do método mais adequado de AEE em relação às potenciais aplicações O objetivo desta pesquisa é, portanto, analisar e indicar os tipos de métodos de avaliação de eco eficiência (AEE) mais adequados para ações gerenciais nas quais caibam tais abordagens. Foram selecionados onze métodos de AEE, a partir do estabelecimento de critérios de caracterização desses métodos, a saber: BASF, Bayer, EcoWater, Hahn et al., Kuosmanen e Kortelainen, MIPS, NRTEE, UN ESCAP, UN, TU Delft, e WBCSD. Identificaram-se, ainda, quatro potenciais aplicações: (i) Monitoramento de processo com vistas à melhoria contínua; (ii) Selecção e classificação de produtos; (iii) Atendimento a requisitos legais e outros requisitos; e, (iv) Marketing, rotulagem de produtos e comunicação ambiental. A partir dos elementos metodológicos estabelecidos pela norma ISSO 14045 (2012) e do conhecimento obtido dos métodos de AEE, determinaram-se quatro requisitos pelos quais os métodos e os potenciais aplicações foram avaliados: (i) Tipo de indicador de desempenho ambiental; (ii) Tipo de indicador de valor de sistema de produto; (iii) Abrangência de aplicação; e, (iv) Tipo de indicador de eco eficiência. Aplicando-se estes requisitos nos métodos de AEE e nos potenciais usos, concluiu-se que quanto à aplicações em termos de monitoramento de processos com vistas à melhoria continua os métodos de AEE recomendados foram Bayer, NRTEE, WBCSD e UN. Para situações de seleção e classificação de produtos os métodos BASF, EcoWater, Kuosmanen e Kortelainen, MIPS, Hahn et al., TU Delft, UN ESCAP e UN demonstraram ter boa aderência. No que se refere a usos voltados ao atendimento de requisitos legais e/ou de outras naturezas, os métodos NRTEE, WBCSD e UN são os mais indicados. Em aplicações de marketing, rotulagem e comunicação foram indicados os métodos BASF, EcoWater e MIPS. Finalmente, concluiu-se que, para a escolha adequada da metodologia para uma AEE, conhecimento prévio das características de cada abordagem é necessário. / It is necessary to measure sustainability to effectively manage and practice it. This measurement is possible by using sustainability assessment methods. Different evaluation methods are avalible, which generally result in environmental, economic and social performance indicators (POPPEA; ANNANDALE; MORISON-SAUNDERSB, 2004). The eco-efficieny assessment (EEA) is one of the most accepted and disseminated donominations of the conjunction of environmental and economic dimensions. Eco-efficiency is the \"aspect of sustainability relating the environmental performance of a product system to its product system value\" (ISO, 2012). Different EEA methods are available, however lack evidence of their similarities and particularities and how these features influence the choice of the most appropriate EEA method for certain potential applications. The objective of this research is therefore to analyze and indicate the types of EEA methods most suitable in management applications. Eleven EEA methods were selected by the establishment of characterization criterias of these methods: BASF, Bayer, EcoWater, Hahn et al., Kuosmanen and Kortelainen, MIPS, NRTEE, UN ESCAP, UN, TU Delft, and WBCSD. Four potential applications were also identified: (i) process monitoring for continuous improvement; (ii) product selection and classification; (iii) compliance to legal and/or other requirements; and (iv) marketing, product labeling and environmental communication. Based on the methodological elements set out by the standard ISO 14045 and the knowledge obtained from EEA methods, four requirements were determined for which the methods and potential applications were evaluated: (i) Type of environmental performance indicator, (ii) Type of product value system indicator, (iii) Scope of application Scope; and (vi) Type indicator of eco-efficiency. The application of the requirements to the AEE methods and potential uses led to the conclusion that for monitoring of processes for continuous improvement the recommended EEA methods are Bayer, NRTEE, WBCSD and UN. For the product selection and classification situations methods BASF, EcoWater, Kuosmanen and Kortelainen, MIPS, Hahn et al., TU Delft, UN ESCAP and UN have shown to be most suitable. Regarding the use aimed at complying with legal and/or other requirements, methods NRTEE, WBCSD and UN are most indicated. In marketing, labeling and communication application the methods BASF, EcoWater and MIPS were recommended. Finally, it was concluded that for an appropriate EEA method choice previous knowledge on the methods approach is necessary.