A Holistic Framework for Sustainable Environmental Impact Assessment in Polymer Production: Systematic Review and Validation

Global polymer production has rapidly escalated in response to the increasing global demand. These materials are highly regarded due to their superior strength-to-weight ratio, cost-effectiveness, and ease of manufacturing. This study presents a systematic review aimed at addressing the environmental challenges associated with polymer production. It also seeks to develop a Sustainable Conceptual Model for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), integrating key sustainability factors, which are often overlooked in existing frameworks. A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, covering peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Critical gaps in conventional EIA practices for polymer manufacturing were identified, forming the basis for the proposed integrated sustainability framework. The proposed model provides a structured methodology for assessing key sustainability dimensions across polymer production, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts throughout the polymer production process. As validation for the model, a pilot study with 68 industry experts was analyzed through reliability testing, confirmatory factor analysis, and regression-based hypothesis testing. The results supported the proposed model. Industries can utilize the model to develop targeted sustainability strategies, minimize environmental footprints, and inform policymaking efforts aimed at improving the environmental performance of polymer manufacturing.