This study proposes a mathematical definition of environment-biased technological progress that can evaluate energy saving and emission reduction abilities. Further, it proposes the concepts of absoluteness and relativity, while extending the classical non-radial slack-based measure in order to establish an advanced slack-based measure model. In addition, a super-efficiency advanced slack-based measure model is set up to test the effectiveness and growth rate of environment-biased technological progress in China. Finally, with China entering a new normal since 2012, economic growth data for 1890 coal production enterprises for 2012-2014 are collected to measure the conditions of environment-biased technological progress in each location and registration type. The results indicate that, compared to existing methods, the proposed method is useful and universally applicable. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.