Greening the military: A systematic review of sustainability implementation and strategic implications
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: There is a growing body of research on how to combine sustainability and the specific characteristics of the military. However, most existing studies focus on isolated cases and provide limited conceptual guidance for implementation. Based on a systematic literature review, this study synthesizes existing research and analyzes how sustainability is addressed across military strategy, infrastructure, and operations. The results show a strong concentration on technological and infrastructure-related measures, particularly renewable energy, additive manufacturing, and climate-adaptive infrastructure, while more integrated and governance-oriented approaches remain limited. Building on these findings, the study develops a conceptual approach to structuring sustainability implementation in military organizations. By mapping sustainability across military domains and assessing its strategic relevance, the paper contributes to defense and public management research and supports decision-making under operational and resource constraints.
Source: AMBIO
Authors: Cudi Zerey, Andreas Glas
Institutions: University of Vechta, Universität der Bundeswehr München
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,490
OpenAlex ID: W7166464407