Work

Life cycle assessment, material sustainability metrics and technology readiness levels for lightweight polymer applications: A review on principles, recent processing and applications

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The demand for lightweight and sustainable materials for various industrial applications are increasing globally in recent times. This need, that is driven by energy saving requirements, has led to many researchers seeking for use, materials that can fill in the gap. Besides, the emerging environmental and performance challenges warrant new material innovations to deliver enhanced functionality with minimal total life-cycle footprint. Hence, this review consolidates a state-of-the-art investigation of cutting-edge lightweight polymer and polymer composite systems that are needed to drive sustainable, lightweight and high-performance material solutions beyond mass reduction. The paper assessed the fundamental principles for mechanical, thermal, and multifunctional needs. The current manufacturing processes available to deliver such materials, and performance standards for various mobility, construction, and biomedical applications, were considered as some of the areas of high demand for sustainable and lightweight materials. Thus, the paper considered a timeline for prioritized solutions substantiated by established pilot testing where life-cycle analysis (LCA) and material passports are created, and standardized metrics are established. Also, the review showed that upscaling of re-processable chemistries is needed to achieve technology readiness levels (TRL), which likewise show that these low-weight polymer solutions are worth the effort for performance, environmental and economic considerations in real-world circumstances.

Source: Next Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102168