ESCAPE simplified approach designed to evaluate materials sustainability: The case of new adsorbent materials for activated carbon substitution

Abstract

This paper discusses a novel simplified approach for assessing the sustainability of new material, specifically focusing on the synthesis technology used. The material can be obtained through emerging technologies, even if they are in the early laboratory development stage. The evaluation is conducted by comparing it to a reference material, which could be a natural resource, for instance. This approach can be applied in situations where complete life cycle assessment (LCA) data is unavailable or a comprehensive LCA evaluation is not required. ESCAPE (standing for Evaluation of Sustainability of material substitution using CArbon footPrint by a simplifiEd approach) involves the calculation of two parameters, the embodied energy, and the CO2 footprint, for all steps of the material synthesis procedure. The manuscript discusses in detail for the first time the approach's applicability and potentialities with some examples, devoted to new proposed adsorbents, derived from wastes. For this aim, 50 literature papers are considered and analysed. Surprisingly, the results show that only 28% of the 50 selected materials are in accord with the introduced sustainability index, showing that most of the new proposed adsorbents appear to be not environmentally sustainable.This study's findings highlight the ESCAPE approach's potential in facilitating materials eco-design by identifying the most resource-intensive steps in synthesis procedures. Notably, this approach provides the flexibility to incorporate the energy mixes of different Countries where the new processes may be deployed, enabling sustainability evaluations based on specific locations. This capability opens possibilities for a more comprehensive and context-specific assessment of sustainability in materials development. In essence, ESCAPE serves as a preliminary screening method before conducting an LCA, enabling rapid evaluations. It serves as a valuable tool for researchers and industries aiming to develop sustainable materials, thereby expediting the transition toward a circular economy.