Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/33726
Title: An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies
Authors: VAN SCHOUBROECK, Sophie 
THOMASSEN, Gwenny 
VAN PASSEL, Steven 
MALINA, Robert 
Springael, Johan
LIZIN, Sebastien 
Venditti, Richard A.
Yao, Yuan
VAN DAEL, Miet 
Issue Date: 2021
Publisher: 
Source: GREEN CHEMISTRY, 23 (4) , p. 1700 -1715
Abstract: A better understanding of the drivers of the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of emerging (biobased) technologies and products in early development phases can help decision-makers to identify sustainability hurdles and opportunities. Furthermore, it guides additional research and development efforts and investment decisions, that will, ultimately, lead to more sustainable products and technologies entering a market. To this end, this study developed a novel techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework with a demonstration on a biobased chemical application. The integrated TSA compares the potential sustainability performance of different (technology) scenarios and helps to make better-informed decisions by evaluating and trading-off sustainability impacts in one holistic framework. The TSA combines methods for comprehensive indicator selection and integration of technological and country-specific data with environmental, economic, and social data. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is used to address data uncertainty and to enable scenario comparison if indicators are expressed in different units. A hierarchical, stochastic outranking approach is followed that compares different weighting schemes and preference structures to check for the robustness of the results. The integrated TSA framework is demonstrated on an application for which the sustainability of a production and harvesting plant of microalgae-based food colorants is assessed. For a set of scenarios that vary with regard to the algae feedstock, production technology, and location, the sustainability performance is quantified and compared, and the underlying reasons for this performance are explored.
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/33726
ISSN: 1463-9262
e-ISSN: 1463-9270
DOI: 10.1039/D1GC00036E
ISI #: WOS:000629630600018
Rights: The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Validations: ecoom 2022
Appears in Collections:Research publications

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