Includes bibliographical references and index.

The contribution of renewables to society / Gèoran Berndes -- The potential of renewables as a feedstock for chemistry and energy / Wilfried G.J.H.M. van Sark, Martin K. Patel, André P.C. Faaij, Monique M. Hoogwijk -- Sustainability performance indicators / Alexei Lapkin -- Life cycle inventory analysis applied to renewable resources / Niels Jungbluth, Rolf Frischknecht -- Net energy balancing and fuel-cycle analysis / Hosein Shapouri, Michael Wang, James A. Duffield -- Life cycle assessment as an environmental sustainability tool / Adisa Azapagic -- Exergy / Jo Dewulf, Herman Van Langenhove -- Material flow analysis and the use of renewables from a systems perspective / Stefan Bringezu -- Ecological footprints and biocapacity : essential elements in sustainability assessment / William E. Rees -- The sustainable process index (SPI) / Michael Narodoslawsky, Anneliese Niederl -- Assessment of sustainable land use in producing biomass / Helmut Haberl, Karl-Heinz Erb -- Assessment of the forest products industries / Klaus Richter, Frank Werner, Hans-Jèorg Althaus -- Assessment of the energy production industry : modern options for producing secondary energy carriers from biomass / André Faaij -- Assessment of biofuels / James A. Duffield, Hosein Shapouri, Michael Wang -- Assessment of organic waste treatment / Jan-Olov Sundqvist -- Oleochemical and petrochemical surfactants : an overall assessment / Erwan Saouter, Gert Van Hoof, Mark Stalmans, Alan Brunskill -- Assessment of bio-based packaging materials / Andreas Detzel, Martina Krèuger, Axel Ostermayer -- Assessment of biotechnology-based chemicals / Peter Saling, Andreas Kicherer -- Assessment of bio-based pharmaceuticals : the Cephalexin case / Alle Bruggink, Peter Nossin.