Aims & Scope

npj Materials Sustainability is an open access, transdisciplinary journal presenting high-quality research that advances the scientific understanding and engineering design of materials with respect to the sustainability of their production, use and re-use.

The journal encourages translational research, ranging from fundamental theories to the scalable application of technological innovations, with an emphasis on sustainability metrics. Published content should be relevant to current industrial practices and address grand challenges or societal needs, with potential impacts beyond academic research. npj Materials Sustainability also highlights the sustainability concerns of materials that have potential in emerging technologies with promising scalability for future commercialization. We envision the increasing importance of collective efforts from multiple disciplines to address more complex, large-scale contemporary challenges relating to Sustainable Development Goal 12, “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”.

The areas of high priority include, but are not limited to:

• Sustainable biorefinery of organic waste and green innovation for CO₂ utilization.
• Resource circularity and sustainable management of end-of-life products (e.g. electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, wind turbines).
• Design, synthesis and recovery of solvents and regents.
• Low-carbon and alternative materials for building a carbon-smart city.
• Energy-efficient infrastructure design and advanced manufacturing.
• Environmental impact and sustainability assessment of materials for emerging applications.
• Sustainability concerns of materials/technologies for carbon capture, utilization, storage, and renewable energy harvesting.

Submissions within the journal scope should serve as impactful pathways towards sustainable development, circular economy, and carbon neutrality