# Industry 4.0 Maturity Model Assessing Environmental Attributes of Manufacturing Company
## 4 Theory--Proposal of a Maturity Model Evaluating Environmental Aspects
### Phase 1--Determining Main Dimensions, Levels, and Indicators for Evaluation
This can be mainly influenced through equipment design (reduction of maintenance steps), pollution prevention, and efforts to bring resource consumption to a minimal level. At higher levels, environmentally responsible manufacturing (ERM) and environmentally conscious manufacturing (ECM) are implemented. Lubricants and cleaning agents are the third main indicator in our model--from not using any (or not caring for or maintaining machinery) at all to biodegradable lubricants, to the most modern synthetic lubricants derived from renewable resources. Tribology is also important here; energy-efficient bearings and lubricants can effectively reduce wear, as well as consumption, and extend lubrication frequencies. **Logistics dimension's environmental aspect indicators:**  
Manipulation processes and the level of automation within internal logistics play a significant role. In internal logistics, where the material input point is a warehouse and the output is, for example, a production line, the goal is to transport goods, material, or in-progress work with minimal human intervention. Manipulation processes can be controlled by a person using transport technology, automated with the participation of a person in different areas of the company (warehouse, production), or it is possible to fully interconnect and integrate individual technologies, processes, and people into one unit. This achieves complete automation of intralogistics processes and a fully autonomous solution. Transport vehicles use different types of propulsion, while efforts towards environmental solutions include replacing diesel engines, hybrid propulsion, electric propulsion, and alternative propulsion that reduces CO2, NOx, and airborne particles and reduces the carbon footprint. Packaging should be designed to allow efficient storage, followed by handling technology used by the company to make efficient use of storage and cargo space. Packaging, therefore, plays an important role and has important factors that influence the environmental aspects. Businesses strive for packaging with maximum service life, enabling long-lasting packaging cycles and high cyclicality and recyclability, which reduces their costs and are less harmful to the environment, unlike one-way or non-returnable packaging. The packaging is made from plant sources and can be composed at the end of its life cycle. Part of the ecological and labelled packaging is product synergy, to which robotic packaging adapts and creates an autonomous system. Environmental aspects of a warehouse system apply to logistics and warehousing facilities where the intention is to build energy-efficient buildings, including environmental friendliness. Thus, the main goal is economic profit as well as environmental aspects. The indicator addresses energy intensity, intelligent lighting, water and waste management, use of environmentally friendly materials, energy-efficient building elements (double facade cladding, windows, doors), or a building's internal environment quality (or in the best-case scenario, the synergy of all aspects). Warehouses corresponding to Industry 4.0 with regard to the environment have economic and ecological technologies, such as modern heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, increased thermal insulation, etc. The highest levels are represented by warehouses built of materials such as wood or special concrete without CO\({}_{2}\). **IT dimension's environmental aspect indicators:**  
Material and human resources reduction is achieved here by implementing IT. From basic (paper) reduction to more complex forms, in which complex systems are digitised and monitored by IT technicians through full automatisation of company processes and services (which are automatised or remotely driven). The highest level is represented by the complete integration of IT systems, production, logistics, and maintenance through a comprehensive exchange of data and information. Energy consumption (efficient energy use) is very important when dealing with environmental manufacturing.