Dynamic life cycle assessment in environmental assessment of processes and products: A scoping review of sectoral applications, digitalization, decision support, and policy relevance

Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment (dynamic-LCA) represents a notable advancement in sustainability assessment by explicitly integrating the time dimension into the evaluation of emissions, resource use, and technological performance, among others. Unlike conventional LCA, which aggregates impacts without considering their temporal distribution, dynamic-LCA models process flows, technologies, and production processes over time using temporal characterization methods and time-dependent data. In this context, this study was conducted as a scoping review using a transparent and structured search, screening, and eligibility procedure reported through a PRISMA flow diagram. Sectoral analysis reveals that the construction sector is the most studied, but, in contrast, studies combining dynamic-LCA with decision support systems are most prevalent in transport (29%) and energy (21%) sectors. Furthermore, dynamic-LCA demonstrates strong links to policy development, supporting climate-adaptive indicators, scenario-based planning, and evaluation of political interventions. This scoping review synthesizes these aspects and explores the integration of dynamic-LCA with digital tools and advanced databases to enhance temporal resolution, multi-criteria assessments, and stakeholder engagement, ultimately improving the accuracy and policy relevance of sustainability evaluations.