The complexity of contemporary environmental challenges is demanding for tools capable of supporting robust and transparent decision making. Among these, life cycle assessment (LCA) has emerged as one of the most effective methodologies for quantifying environmental burdens across the entire life cycle of products and services (Hellweg et al., 2023). The aim of this special issue was to showcase how life cycle thinking can support a sustainable innovation across multiple sectors. The contributions demonstrate that LCA is increasingly moving beyond a narrow carbon-accounting role and becoming a broader framework for sustainable design, circular economy strategies and policy support. Despite the diversity of sectors, a common message emerges: sustainability cannot be assessed without considering full-system interactions, material flows and end-of-life implications.
In the agricultural sector, Al-Dawood et al. (2026) present a study to evaluate the environmental impacts of low-density polyethylene plastic mulch for maize across its full life cycle. The results mainly indicate that energy recovery, particularly through controlled incineration, can help reduce some environmental burdens, although uncertainties remain due to limited disposal data.
Another contribution by Ibrahim et al. (2026) explores sustainable pathways for agro-industrial waste valorisation through a comparative life cycle analysis of banana waste used in thermal insulation, bioethanol production and packaging applications. Findings reinforce the importance of material recovery and cross-sector integration in moving towards more regenerative production systems.
Urban sustainability and food resilience are also addressed through a study on hydroponic systems for urban communities developed by Reddy et al. (2026). Results underline that technological innovation alone does not guarantee sustainability. Instead, system design, energy inputs and local context critically influence outcomes.
The built environment is represented through a study conducted by Nguyen and Pishdad (2026). The study applies LCA to compare modular and traditional construction in the United States and highlights modular construction as a promising strategy for more sustainable and efficient building delivery, while also noting the need for broader datasets and further research across different building types and regions.
The issue also includes a systematic review of LCA studies on plastic waste end-of-life management. Overall, the study identifies key research gaps and provides guidance for improving evidence-based strategies to address the plastic waste crisis. The need for harmonised approaches and better-quality inventory data to support effective waste policy is highlighted (Costa-Redondo et al., 2026).
Finally, the issue addresses industrial circularity through a study on recycled steel and waste heat recovery conducted by Katta et al. (2026). This work combines environmental and economic assessment to demonstrate how industrial symbiosis and material recovery can simultaneously reduce emissions, conserve resources and improve cost efficiency.
All considered, the papers of the special issue clearly show that LCA is a fundamental decision-support framework for environmental engineering. They also reveal some challenges such as data uncertainty, regional variability and the need to better integrate social and economic dimensions into sustainability assessment. Looking ahead, the environmental engineering community must continue to advance both the rigour and accessibility of LCA. This includes improving databases, expanding applications in emerging sectors and ensuring that life cycle thinking is embedded earlier in design and policy processes.
