University "Mediterranea" of Reggio Calabria

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are gaining increasing relevance as innovative strategies to
address environmental, social, and economic challenges. These solutions rely on natural
processes or green infrastructures, such as reforestation, or soil regeneration, to provide
multiple ecosystem services, including improved air quality, and biodiversity protection. In
recent years, the need to thoroughly assess the effectiveness and sustainability of NBS has
emerged, for supporting design decisions and ensure a correct allocation of resources. To this
end, several researches have started integrating life cycle assessment methodologies – Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA)
– into the analysis of NBS. The combined use of LCA, LCC, and S-LCA allows adopting a holistic perspective, focusing
not only on environmental performance and life cycle costs but also on social impacts and
the distribution of benefits among stakeholders. This approach is crucial to identify potential
trade-offs, such as whether certain materials or technologies may cause undesired
environmental externalities.
Overall, while LCA has been widely applied in the context of NBS, studies focusing on LCC
and S-LCA remain extremely limited in the literature. This gap highlights the need for more
comprehensive assessments that integrate all three methodologies to fully capture the
economic and social dimensions of NBS alongside their environmental impacts. However,
early evidence suggests that integrating these methodologies provides a comprehensive view
of the effectiveness and sustainability of NBS.
For example, Rugani et al. (2024) evaluated the reforestation of a post-industrial area in Turin
using excavated materials and compost derived from municipal solid waste. The results show
significant environmental benefits, such as reduced CO2 emissions due to plant biomass
growth, despite notable impacts during site preparation.
In another study, Defossé et al. (2024) analyzed a wastewater treatment system coupled with
constructed wetlands in France, emphasizing the importance of carbon mass balance and
gaseous emissions for improving LCA accuracy. The study demonstrates that NBS reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and resource use compared to conventional solutions, though
they require more land and have higher impacts in water-sensitive categories.
The use of life cycle methodologies has increased significantly, revealing their role in
assessing the environmental, economic, and social benefits of NBS. However, while LCA has
been extensively explored, the application of LCC and S-LCA remains underdeveloped,
limiting our ability to fully evaluate the cost-effectiveness and social benefits of NBS
implementations. Standardized guidelines and more studies are essential to consolidate this
practice and promote large-scale adoption of NBS for resilient systems and territories.
Additionally, NBS can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
defined by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. For instance, NBS support climate change
mitigation (SDG 13), and ecosystem preservation (SDG 15).
In conclusion, while challenges remain, integrating life cycle methodologies into NBS
assessments represents a promising pathway toward sustainable development. By
addressing gaps in knowledge, particularly in the areas of LCC and S-LCA, and fostering
collaboration, NBS can become a cornerstone for building resilient systems and achieving
global sustainability goals.