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Socio-Economic Life Cycle-Based Framework for Safe and Sustainable Design of Engineered Nanomaterials and Nano-Enabled Products

Author

Listed:
  • Stella Stoycheva

    (East European Research and Innovation Enterprise (EMERGE), 1303 Sofia, Bulgaria
    Yordas Group, 91301 Forchheim, Germany)

  • Alex Zabeo

    (Green Decision Srl., 30175 Venice, Italy)

  • Lisa Pizzol

    (Green Decision Srl., 30175 Venice, Italy)

  • Danail Hristozov

    (East European Research and Innovation Enterprise (EMERGE), 1303 Sofia, Bulgaria)

Abstract

This manuscript describes an innovative approach to socio-economic assessment of (advanced) engineered nanomaterials and nano-enabled products (NEPs) to support safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) decision making by industries in the early stages of product development. This semi-quantitative methodology is based on a sound conceptual framework grounded in the combination of social life cycle analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis methods and supports decision making based upon socio-economic impacts assessed over the full life cycle of a product. To facilitate its application by industries, the methodology was implemented as an Excel-based self-assessment tool. This easy-to-use, cost- and time-efficient tool can guide users through their SSbD decision making regarding newly developed nanomaterials and NEPs and can also be applied to re-evaluate existing materials and NEPs in order to improve their sustainability from a socio-economic perspective. The relatively low requirements of this tool regarding the level of efforts and expert knowledge needed for its application make it a good starting point for initial assessment to highlight socio-economic issues in the value chain. The results of this initial screening can be further used for more detailed analysis in the later stages of product development by performing a full social life cycle assessment (S-LCA).

Suggested Citation

  • Stella Stoycheva & Alex Zabeo & Lisa Pizzol & Danail Hristozov, 2022. "Socio-Economic Life Cycle-Based Framework for Safe and Sustainable Design of Engineered Nanomaterials and Nano-Enabled Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5734-:d:811643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Somayeh Rezaei Kalvani & Amir Hamzah Sharaai & Ibrahim Kabir Abdullahi, 2021. "Social Consideration in Product Life Cycle for Product Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-22, October.
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    3. Rajive Dhingra & Sasikumar Naidu & Girish Upreti & Rapinder Sawhney, 2010. "Sustainable Nanotechnology: Through Green Methods and Life-Cycle Thinking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(10), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Matthias Finkbeiner & Erwin M. Schau & Annekatrin Lehmann & Marzia Traverso, 2010. "Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(10), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Wang, Jiang-Jiang & Jing, You-Yin & Zhang, Chun-Fa & Zhao, Jun-Hong, 2009. "Review on multi-criteria decision analysis aid in sustainable energy decision-making," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2263-2278, December.
    6. Vrishali Subramanian & Elena Semenzin & Alex Zabeo & Danail Hristozov & Ineke Malsch & Peter Saling & Toon Harmelen & Tom Ligthart & Antonio Marcomini, 2016. "Integrating the Social Impacts into Risk Governance of Nanotechnology," Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management, in: Finbarr Murphy & Eamonn M. McAlea & Martin Mullins (ed.), Managing Risk in Nanotechnology, chapter 0, pages 51-70, Springer.
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    1. Raquel Barrena & Javier Moral-Vico & Xavier Font & Antoni Sánchez, 2022. "Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion with Nanomaterials: A Mini Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-11, July.

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