14/Jul/2026

GIANCE at LCIC2026: advancing life cycle thinking for sustainable graphene innovation

When developing advanced materials, performance is only part of the equation. Understanding their environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle is essential to ensure that innovation also delivers real sustainability benefits.

This was one of the key topics discussed at the 5th Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC2026), held in Berlin, where researchers and sustainability experts gathered to exchange knowledge on the latest developments in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and circular innovation.

The GIANCE project was proudly represented by Dr. Ana Claudia Nioac de Salles, from project partner Fraunhofer ICT, who presented the project’s ongoing work on life cycle assessment alongside colleagues from the consortium.

Bringing sustainability assessment into graphene innovation

Within GIANCE, environmental sustainability is considered from the earliest stages of technology development.

Fraunhofer ICT leads the project’s work on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), evaluating the environmental performance of graphene-enabled technologies across their entire life cycle—from raw material production to manufacturing, use and end-of-life.

This work helps identify environmental hotspots, supports eco-design decisions and ensures that technological innovation goes hand in hand with sustainability.

The activities presented at LCIC2026 build on GIANCE’s broader efforts to establish robust sustainability assessment methodologies for graphene-based products, including the recent publication of Product Category Rules (PCRs) and the organisation of dedicated workshops on harmonised LCA approaches within the graphene community.

Sharing knowledge with the LCA community

LCIC2026 provided an excellent opportunity to discuss current methodological challenges, exchange experiences with international experts and strengthen collaborations within the life cycle assessment community.

We would like to thank Ana Claudia Nioac de Salles and the Fraunhofer ICT team for representing GIANCE and contributing to the dialogue on how life cycle thinking can support the responsible development of advanced materials.

By integrating environmental assessment throughout the innovation process, GIANCE is helping ensure that the graphene technologies of tomorrow are not only high-performing, but also sustainable by design.