Towards Sustainable Industrial Processes by 2030 and 2050: Technologies, Policies and Implementation Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

The transition towards sustainable industrial processes is a cornerstone of global strategies aiming to achieve climate neutrality and reduce pollution by 2030 and 2050. This Special Issue addresses the scientific and practical challenges of transforming production systems to promote technological innovation and meet the requirements of sustainability policies.

Environmental and chemical sustainability policies play a key role as drivers of process innovation, complementing initiatives such as the Global Framework for Chemicals (GFC), the European Green Deal, and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS). These policies aim to promote the development and adoption of safe and sustainable chemicals, minimize and manage risks throughout the life cycle, and support measures for the prevention, mitigation and remediation of chemical pollution, while encouraging circular solutions and sustainable technologies. Policy instruments include guidelines and best practices as well as several laws (such as REACH and CLP), which support innovation and risk reduction in industrial processes while ensuring a high level of protection for human health and environment.

The aim of this Special Issue is to examine how sustainability principles can be effectively integrated into industrial processes through advanced environmental technologies (e.g., Best Available Techniques, Life Cycle Assessment) and digital solutions, while considering implementation barriers and socio-economic implications. Contributions may address research on technical developments, policy analyses and case studies related to real-world applications in the context of the sustainable transition.

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

• Integration of sustainable technologies to reduce environmental impacts (enhancing operational conditions, risk analysis, combining BAT, LCA, QSAR, and tools to optimize production and minimize environmental footprint);
• Implementation challenges and environmental implications (risk assessment and management, adoption of mitigation strategies and sustainable technologies);
• Case studies on sustainable transition in industry (practical examples of decarbonization, circular economy, substitution and alternatives analysis);
• Policy and technology integration for sustainability (approaches to foster innovation and support industrial transformation).

We look forward to receiving your contributions to advance knowledge and foster innovation for a sustainable future.

Best regards, 
Guest Editors

Dr. Simone Marzeddu
Dr. Emiliano Panieri
Dr. Giuseppe Granato
Dr. Fortunata Barone
Guest Editors

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