Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) represents a robust framework for evaluating the environmental performance of recycling systems; however, its application to closed-loop strategies remains methodologically challenging, and standardized guidelines are still scarce. This article presents a systematic review of 196 recent papers (2020–2025) to analyze current methodological trends, identify key analytical choices across all industrial sectors, and provide recommendations for future assessments. The findings highlight a growing research interest, concentrated primarily in EU countries. However, substantial discrepancies emerge in how studies address technical modeling choices. Notably, there is a strong dominance of attributional over consequential approaches, frequent reporting omissions regarding allocation and inventory choices, and a widespread neglect of uncertainty analyses despite their importance in innovative contexts. Furthermore, scenario analyses predominantly compare different recycling pathways while neglecting alternative end-of-life options like incineration or landfilling, and rarely account for recycled material downcycling or technical substitutability. The study concludes that no clear consensus on a unified methodology exists across various industrial sectors. To enhance transparency, comparability, and decision-making utility of LCA in recycling systems, this paper outlines strategic recommendations and emphasizes the urgent need for harmonized, sector-specific guidelines.
Source: Sustainable Futures
Authors: Caterina Barbiero, Anna Mazzi
Institution: University of Padua
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,340
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7225459513