Aus Wissenschaft und Forschung / TAE-Plenarvorträge 32 Tribologie + Schmierungstechnik · 67. Jahrgang · 4/ 2020 Sustainability is based on the three pillars of environment, economy and social responsibility. For the sustainability assessment of environmental consequences, the life cycle assessment method has established itself worldwide and has become a recognized standard. What does the Life Cycle Assessment cover and what is left out of it? As far as the overall assessment of sustainability is concerned, no standard has yet been able to establish itself, and many methodological approaches are being pursued and applied in parallel. New impulses have been added in recent years by the circular economy, microplastic and biodiversity problems. Finally, a sustainability assessment according to German VDI will be presented, which has proven itself in practice at the nova-Institut. Some practical examples will be presented and explained. Sustainability Analyses - from Brundtland to VDI Michael Carus* The lecture will briefly introduce the history of sustainability, starting with the German Hans Carl von Carlowitz, who was the first ever to introduce the term in forestry, through Norwegian politician Gro Harlem Brundtland, who was Prime Minister three times, who made the term and the concept behind it known worldwide, to the current design by the United Nations. * Michael Carus nova-Institut GmbH, Germany Abstract