Early-stage material selection based on life cycle approach: tools, obstacles and opportunities for design

Material selection plays an essential role in environmental product performances; however, choice and comparison between different materials' environmental features are not trivial for designers. Academic and grey literature reviews were used to provide an overview of the main types of software, using a life cycle approach, supporting material selection decisions since the early design stages, highlighting pros and cons of the different tools from a designer's perspective. Three main typologies of software emerged from the study, defined by different usability and completeness degrees. Obstacles and opportunities were noted on four main aspects which influence the choice of the most sustainable material: on the educational level, on the analysis level, on the material selection level, and on a system level. Tools for in depth LCA can be used for material selection; although difficult for designers to use, these software are essential to create a more critical awareness for the application of both conventional and new materials. Simplified LCA Tools with limited impact categories, and simplified tools explicitly dedicated to material selection from a life cycle thinking perspective, better respond to the usability needs of designers, who must, however, consider the limits of precision of these tools, combining their use with a life cycle design approach and applying ecodesign strategies. To date, little effort has been made to integrate such tools properly in the design practice; therefore, multidisciplinarity between LCA experts and designers is strongly recommended, especially to avoid misleading aspects in assessing the growing number of materials that tend to be considered a key for sustainable innovation.