Cleaner Production, Responsible Consumption, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development

Dear Colleagues,

The contemporary environmental crises, including increasing waste, climate change, and pollution, demand urgent action through cleaner production, responsible consumption, a circular economy, and sustainable development. Cleaner production focuses on minimising waste and reducing environmental impacts by optimising processes throughout a product’s lifecycle, from initial design and material sourcing to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. Responsible consumption complements cleaner production by encouraging individuals to make environmentally conscious choices, including purchasing durable products, reusing or repurposing items, repairing broken goods, and upcycling waste materials to extend their utility and reduce waste generation. The circular economy provides a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear economic model of “take, make, use, and dispose”. By prioritising the elimination of waste and maximising resource efficiency, it seeks to maintain products, components, and materials at their highest value for as long as possible. Circular economy practices—such as reuse, repair, redistribution, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling—integrate cleaner production and responsible consumption. Sustainable development, built on the three pillars of economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, is achievable only through a circular economy that aligns with cleaner production and responsible consumption. Together, these approaches form a comprehensive strategy to address environmental challenges while ensuring long-term sustainability. 

This Special Issue aims to present the latest groundbreaking research with new methodologies and scientific findings, as well as cutting-edge technologies and practices in the fields of cleaner production, responsible consumption, circular economy, and sustainable development, especially at their intersections. 

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Cleaner production;
• Clean technology;
• Sustainable design and innovation;
• Sustainable engineering;  
• Sustainable products, services, and product–service systems;
• Sustainable business models;
• Sustainable supply chain management and innovation;
• Sustainable and ethical fashion and textiles;
• Lifecycle analysis and other environmental assessments;
• Lifecycle management;
• System-scale sustainability assessment;
• Techno-economic feasibility assessment of environmentally benign solutions;
• Corporate social responsibility and producer responsibility;
• Responsible and ethical consumption;
• Sustainable behaviour and lifestyles; 
• Circular economy;
• Circular design;
• Circular business models and supply chains (and reverse logistics);
• Circular economy policies and governance;
• Regenerative practices;
• Green transitions;
• Sustainable development;
• Sustainable development goals;
• Education for sustainable development;
• Sustainable cities and communities;
• Upcycling;
• Climate change; 
• Net zero.  

We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Dr. Kyungeun Sung
Prof. Dr. Richie Moalosi
Dr. Abhishek Tiwary
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.