The cryogenic extractive distillation process for CO₂-ethane separation from natural gas involves four distillation columns in series and a rather high amount of energy from boiler and refrigeration compressors. This study proposes the intensification of a real plant located in China using a vapor recompression (VR) strategy to revamp it. The conventional process and the intensification configurations were designed by simulation in UniSim software. A utility plant with cooling water, steam generation, and propane refrigeration sections was also considered for realistic results regarding water consumption, CO₂ emissions, and utility costs. Additionally, in order to establish an overall means for performance analysis, such indicators were grouped in a joint evaluation approach using the Comparative Eco-Efficiency Index. Results show that the VR1 scheme applied between the depropanizer condenser and the deethanizer reboiler provides savings of 24.2 % and 24.5 % in energy and water consumption, respectively; therefore, savings of 25.5 % and 21.4 % in CO₂ emissions and utility costs were achieved, respectively, which increased the process's eco-efficiency by 41.9 %. As a point of interest, 33 months are necessary to recover the corresponding investment on the compressor and heat exchanger.