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Review of decision analytic tools for sustainable nanotechnology

Author

Listed:
  • Vrishali Subramanian

    (University Ca’ Foscari Venice)

  • Elena Semenzin

    (University Ca’ Foscari Venice)

  • Danail Hristozov

    (University Ca’ Foscari Venice)

  • Esther Zondervan-van den Beuken

    (TNO)

  • Igor Linkov

    (US Army Engineer Research and Development Center)

  • Antonio Marcomini

    (University Ca’ Foscari Venice)

Abstract

Nanotechnology innovation is hampered by data gaps and knowledge limitations in evaluating the risks and impacts of nano-enabled products. “Sustainable nanotechnology” is a growing concept in the literature, which calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the risks and impacts of nanotechnology at an early stage of nano-enabled product life cycle. ‘One such method to frame sustainable nanotechnology is the triple bottom line (TBL) approach, which comprises the environmental, economic, and societal “pillars” that contribute to the overall sustainability of a nano-enabled product. For the context of nanotechnology, risk analysis (RA), life cycle assessment (LCA), and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) are frequently called upon to support sustainable nanotechnology governance. This paper provides a systematic review of these tools in the context of sustainable nanotechnology. The results indicate a growing number of applications for these tools with LCA contributing to the environmental and economic pillars, and RA contributing to the environmental pillar. MCDA provides the structural scaffold and mathematical techniques necessary to integrate RA and LCA within the TBL, and also provides the means to address uncertainty of early-stage nanotechnology assessment. Using these tools, integrated sustainability assessment could provide a viable means for industry and regulators to make near-term decisions about complex nanotechnology problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Vrishali Subramanian & Elena Semenzin & Danail Hristozov & Esther Zondervan-van den Beuken & Igor Linkov & Antonio Marcomini, 2015. "Review of decision analytic tools for sustainable nanotechnology," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 29-41, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:35:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1007_s10669-015-9541-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-015-9541-x
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    2. Benjamin D. Trump & Christy Foran & Taylor Rycroft & Matthew D. Wood & Nirzwan Bandolin & Mariana Cains & Timothy Cary & Fiona Crocker & Nicholas A. Friedenberg & Patrick Gurian & Kerry Hamilton & Jan, 2018. "Development of community of practice to support quantitative risk assessment for synthetic biology products: contaminant bioremediation and invasive carp control as cases," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 517-527, December.
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