Industrial system prioritization using the sustainability-interval-index conceptual framework with life-cycle considerations

Abstract

This study aims to develop a sustainability-interval-index (SII) conceptual framework with life-cycle considerations which can incorporate the opinions/preferences of multiple stakeholders in the complex decision-making processes and address the decision-making matrix composed by multiple types of data for multiactor life cycle ranking of industrial systems. The multiactor fuzzy best-worst method which allows multiple groups of stakeholders to use fuzzy numbers to express their opinions and preferences was developed for determining the weights of the indicators in life cycle sustainability assessment. A multicriteria decision-making method under hybrid information was developed for addressing the decision-making matrix composed by multiple types of data. Five hydrogen production pathways were studied, and the results reveal that the developed SII is feasible for sustainability ranking of industrial systems in life cycle perspective.