Categorising tools for sustainability assessment

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide a categorisation of sustainability assessment tools within the broader objective of lifting the understanding of sustainability assessment from the environmental-focused realm to a wider interpretation of sustainability. The suggested framework is based on three main categories: indicators/indices, product-related assessment, and integrated assessment tools. There is furthermore the overarching category of monetary valuation tools that can be used as a part of many of the tools listed in the three categories. The tools are also divided by their spatial focus and the level of nature-society system integration. Discussion focuses on if and how the tools fulfil the objectives from the more current understanding of sustainability assessment. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.