In Brazil, the sugarcane ethanol has presented extent prominence as biofuel. Then, postulating sustainability for this activity is an essential, difficult but important challenge. With the options range of assessment tools available, this research focused on how these complex issues are considered in the selection of valuation models process as well as how these models are chosen and proposed. For the search was conducted a contextual analysis, identified intervention points for the sugarcane ethanol system, identified critical issues involved in the sustainability concept and its assessment, and was ranked attributes for systemic criteria. The research concluded that there hasn´t been an adequate linkage between the analysis models and their selection, harming the operational sustainability and evaluation. So, the analytical and systemic framework proposed for model selection of sustainability assessment, can contribute to the decision-making process and the formulation and / or evaluation of public policies aimed for the sector's sustainability.