Innovation in Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Emerging Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

To address the need to perform systematic assessments across all areas of sustainability, Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) has been researched and utilized to evaluate the life cycle environmental, economic, and social impacts of various products, systems, and processes. According to the UNEP/SETAC’s 2012 publication, “Towards a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment. Making Informed Choices on Products,” a LCSA consists of three components—a LCC (life cycle cost analysis), E-LCA (environmental LCA), and S-LCA (social LCA). LCSA involves four steps similar to E-LCA: goal and scope definition, life-cycle inventory analysis (LCI), life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and interpretation.

Currently, there are several research needs and gaps in the methodology of LCSA. One of the major advantages of LCSA over traditional LCA is that it can assess social and economic impacts more effectively and accurately. LCSA methodology can be further improved by considering the drawbacks of LCAs and integrating existing sustainability tools. For example, there is an increasing trend of assessing emerging technologies using different sustainability tools, such as disaster resilience and risk assessment. Improvements to LCSAs can also include sustainability assessments that integrate metrics and indicators, multiscale assessments, spatial–temporal dynamic improvements, and the addition of more advanced data science and management, machine learning, and data analytics into LCSA. In addition to the focus on methodologies, LCSAs of emerging technologies are critical, especially those that utilize integrated approaches.

This Special Issue, titled “Innovation in Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Emerging Technologies,” seeks to publish research and review articles exploring theoretical, methodological, and case studies related to LCSA. We invite submissions from the areas of engineering, natural sciences, public policy, law, social science, business, and economics. Some emerging technologies include but are not limited to:

• Renewable energy systems;
• Advanced transportation systems;
• Supply chain systems;
• Intensified, modular processes;
• Resource recovery-based water systems;
• Food systems;
• Integrated technologies (e.g. food–water–energy nexus);
• Advanced manufacturing (e.g., additive manufacturing, 3D printing);
• Internet of Things and Industry 4.0;
• Pharmaceuticals;
• Circular economy.

Prof. Seung-Jin Lee
Prof. Xiaobo Xue Romeiko
Dr. Debalina Sengupta
Prof. Shweta Singh
Dr. Junbeum Kim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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