Finding green performance targets globally closest to management goals for ports experiencing similar circumstances

The development of the port industry not only promotes national economic growth but also leads to environmental pollution. Consequently, port managers have recognized the importance of prioritizing green development. One common approach involves setting best-practice green performance targets as benchmarks to improve port sustainability. However, there is a lack of research considering the disparity between actual management goals and green performance targets for ports facing similar circumstances. To address these shortcomings, we propose innovative models as follows: We introduce a novel data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to provide the best-practice green performance targets for ports in similar circumstances. These targets aim to be globally closest to the respective management goals, while also aligning with actual green performance. Achieving these targets requires the reallocation of inputs and outputs, illustrating the pathways to enhance green performance. We present another DEA model along with an iterative algorithm to offer stepwise reallocation paths for ports with limited potential for reallocation. These paths enable these ports to reach their ambitious green performance targets gradually. To validate the effectiveness of the models, we conducted a case study involving 18 ports in South Korea. The results demonstrate the following: The green performance targets generated by our method represent the optimal input-output level, considering both economic and environmental factors. The green performance targets closely resemble the corresponding actual management goals. Ports with limited potential for reallocation can progressively approach their best performance targets through stepwise reallocation paths. Finally, this study concludes by providing policy recommendations and suggesting avenues for future research.