The growing market demand for peptides is drawing more attention to their industrial synthetic procedures, which rely on large amounts of toxic solvents. Here the authors suggest practical steps that bring fully water-based peptide synthesis closer to reality.

Pretreatment is a prerequisite to recycle spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and advance resource circularity, but its impacts on the overall performance and environmental footprint of LIBs recycling are poorly understood. This study develops unit-level models to address this knowledge gap.

This systematic review explores the gender dimensions of cookstove randomized control trials in low- and middle-income countries, published between 2000 and 2024, and highlights the importance of shifting towards more gender-sensitive research designs.

Membrane bioreactors play a pivotal role in protecting the water environment and achieving a sustainable urban water cycle, but their operational stability faces great challenges due to membrane fouling. A study now provides an intelligent strategy to enable early warning of fouling events.

Although lithium–sulfur batteries are prized for their sustainability, practical energy densities are often limited by heavy host materials. The authors report a graphdiyne architecture that integrates anchoring and catalytic functions, enabling ultrahigh sulfur loading and exceptional energy densities, even in pouch-cell configuration.

Climate change, particularly intensifying droughts, is often blamed for wildfires across the Gran Chaco, a vast South American dry woodland. An analysis of over 30 years of fire patterns, however, reveals that the majority of fires are driven by agricultural expansion and deforestation.

Petroleum-based adhesives are used ubiquitously in daily life and therefore contribute to persistent waste generation. Here the authors synthesize a robust and strong poly(ester amide) adhesive that can be derived from biomass feedstocks and chemically recycled at the end of its life.

Different agricultural management systems, for example, conventional versus organic, can have different benefits and challenges. Authors here examine the biodiversity, crop yield and ecosystem multifunctionality impacts of transitioning from conventional to organic agriculture across 179 global croplands.

The production of high-value chemicals can involve energy-intensive processes, necessitating sustainable production strategies. Here the authors present a circular bioeconomy approach, upcycling plastic waste through microbial conversion into levodopa, a medicine for Parkinson’s disease.

Hot climates erode children’s sleep, threatening cognitive development with likely socioeconomic consequences. A global analysis finds potential links between future sleep losses and trillions of dollars in economic costs that disproportionately burden poorer regions.

Adhesives conveniently hold together a wide variety of physical objects, but they carry an underappreciated environmental burden. More sustainable alternatives are urgently needed.

Adhesives are hard to see when in use, but they force most products to reside in landfills for centuries. Ongoing research is creating opportunities in materials design and market impact, thereby helping society move towards a more sustainable future.

Besides decarbonizing energy supply, photovoltaics can also largely enhance the resilience of global food supply, argues Zhenguo Li.

The chronic water crisis in Iran stems from decades of water-intensive development, fragmented governance and national priorities that sidelined environmental protection. Without major governance reform and reprioritization, technical solutions alone cannot stop worsening water and environmental degradation.

A panel discussion with global experts, convened by Nature Sustainability and Tongji University in 2021, outlined the roadmap for the development of next-generation sustainable batteries. We now revisit the topic in light of recent advances.

Linking humans, animals, plants, environments and ecosystems to forge healthier lives on a healthier planet clearly aligns with sustainability objectives. A collection of research and opinion presents ideas on the way forward to support such alignment.