The purpose of an input-output environmental analysis is to identify any significant environmental issues arising out of corporate activities, in terms of input (such as resource consumption) and output (emissions into the atmosphere).
Environmental issues are considered to be significant as soon as they begin to require long-term checks and monitoring. 



Companies can conduct these analyses to gather objective, transparent information concerning their degree of impact upon the environment, which they can subsequently keep under close observation with a view to reducing it over time.

Reducing environmental impact is made possible by ongoing improvements to technologies, processes and overall organisation.