{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,17]],"date-time":"2026-04-17T02:39:54Z","timestamp":1776393594295,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768953600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The integration of complex system concepts and sustainability in chemical engineering education is often limited to elective or separate courses rather than their integration into the core curriculum. This pedagogical gap can lead to graduates who lack a holistic understanding of the intricate interplay between industrial processes and the Earth\u2019s ecological limits, and the feedback loops required to address complex global challenges. This paper presents a transformative approach to close this gap by embedding the Planetary Boundaries framework and system thinking across core chemical engineering courses, such as Material and Energy Balances, Reaction Engineering, and Process Design, and extending this integration to capstone projects. The framework treats the curriculum itself as an interconnected learning system in which key systems concepts are revisited and deepened through contextualized examples and digital modeling tools, including process simulators and life-cycle assessment. We map each boundary to illustrative process examples and learning activities and discuss practical implementation issues such as curriculum crowding, educator readiness, and data availability. This approach aligns with outcome-based education goals by making system thinking and absolute sustainability explicit learning outcomes, preparing future chemical engineers to design processes that respect planetary limits while balancing technical performance, economic feasibility, and societal needs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems14010110","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T08:48:08Z","timestamp":1768985288000},"page":"110","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A Systems-Thinking Framework for Embedding Planetary Boundaries into Chemical Engineering Curriculum"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3304-4678","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yazeed M.","family":"Aleissa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Allen, D.T., and Shonnard, D.R. (2012). Sustainable Engineering, Prentice Hall."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Azapagic, A. (2006). Life cycle assessment as an environmental sustainability tool. Renewables-Based Technology, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.","DOI":"10.1002\/0470022442.ch6"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"442","DOI":"10.1108\/IJSHE-09-2017-0146","article-title":"Introduction of life cycle assessment and sustainability concepts in chemical engineering curricula","volume":"19","author":"Stamford","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Sustain. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"113","article-title":"A Program to Help in Designing Courses to Integrate Green Engineering Subjects","volume":"20","author":"Hesketh","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int. J. Eng. Educ."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"(2020). Environmental Management\u2014Life Cycle Assessment Principles and Framework, Amendment 1. Standard No. ISO 14040:2006\/Amd 1:2020. Available online: https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/76121.html."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Anastas, P.T., and Warner, J. (2000). Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press.","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780198506980.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.1108\/14676371211262308","article-title":"Sustainability in chemical engineering curriculum","volume":"13","author":"Glassey","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Sustain. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Walker, H.L., Kim, D., and Clausen, E.C. (2024, January 8\u201310). Chemical Engineering Courses in Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment. Proceedings of the 2024 ASEE Midwest Section Conference Proceedings, ASEE Conferences, Lawrence, Kansas."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/03043797.2022.2033955","article-title":"Preparing engineering students for the challenges of the SDGs: What competences are required?","volume":"48","author":"Beagon","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. J. Eng. Educ."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sabri, O.K. (2025). Rethinking sustainability in engineering education: A call for systemic change. Front. Educ., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/feduc.2025.1587430"},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Lee, H., and Romero, J. (2023). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Kleine, M.S., Wigner, A., Nieusma, D., and Salinas, C. (2023, January 25\u201328). Addressing Engineering Reductionism by Reimagining ABET Outcomes. Proceedings of the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings, ASEE Conferences, Baltimore, MD, USA."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Meadows, D.H. (2009). Thinking in Systems: A Primer, Earthscan."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Sterman, J. (2000). Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World, McGraw-Hill Professional."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3530","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.2c00659","article-title":"An interactive planetary boundaries systems thinking learning tool to integrate sustainability into the chemistry curriculum","volume":"99","author":"MacDonald","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4577","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.3c00337","article-title":"Conceptual Modeling Enables Systems Thinking in Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Engineering","volume":"100","author":"Pei","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3925","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.3c00474","article-title":"Systems Thinking in Chemistry and Chemical Education: A Framework for Meaningful Conceptual Learning and Competence in Chemistry","volume":"100","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"608","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2017.12.130","article-title":"A systematic review of the literature on integrating sustainability into engineering curricula","volume":"181","author":"Stevenson","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100303","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clrc.2025.100303","article-title":"Integrating sustainability into chemical engineering Education: Experiences from imperial college London","volume":"18","author":"Inguva","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clean. Responsible Consum."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Habbal, F., Kolmos, A., Hadgraft, R.G., Holgaard, J.E., and Reda, K. (2024). Reshaping Engineering Education: Addressing Complex Human Challenges, Springer Nature.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-99-5873-3"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"472","DOI":"10.1038\/461472a","article-title":"A safe operating space for humanity","volume":"461","author":"Steffen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259855","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1259855","article-title":"Sustainability. Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet","volume":"347","author":"Steffen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"eadh2458","DOI":"10.1126\/sciadv.adh2458","article-title":"Earth beyond six of nine planetary boundaries","volume":"9","author":"Richardson","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Adv."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Sakschewski, B., Caesar, L., Andersen, L., Bechthold, M., Bergfeld, L., Beusen, A., Billing, M., Bodirsky, B.L., Botsyun, S., and Dennis, D.P. (2025). Planetary Health Check 2025, Technical Report."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) (2015). Body of Knowledge for Chemical Engineers, AIChE. Technical Report."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2487","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2004.12.004","article-title":"Energy efficiency improvements in ammonia production\u2014Perspectives and uncertainties","volume":"30","author":"Rafiqul","year":"2005","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1510","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.1c04158","article-title":"Outside the safe operating space of the planetary boundary for novel entities","volume":"56","author":"Persson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1238","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1151861","article-title":"Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land-Use Change","volume":"319","author":"Searchinger","year":"2008","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1177970","article-title":"Beneficial Biofuels\u2014The Food, Energy, and Environment Trilemma","volume":"325","author":"Tilman","year":"2009","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2721","DOI":"10.1039\/c3ee41151f","article-title":"Life-cycle assessment of carbon dioxide capture and utilization: Avoiding the pitfalls","volume":"6","author":"Jung","year":"2013","journal-title":"Energy Environ. Sci."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.coche.2019.09.003","article-title":"Challenges and opportunities in assessing sustainability during chemical process design","volume":"26","author":"Argoti","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Chem. Eng."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bakshi, B.R. (2023). Engineering and Ecosystems: Seeking Synergies Toward a Nature-Positive World, Springer International Publishing.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-35692-6"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bakshi, B.R. (2019). Sustainable Engineering, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/9781108333726"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"614","DOI":"10.3390\/resources3040614","article-title":"Rare Earth Elements: Overview of Mining, Mineralogy, Uses, Sustainability and Environmental Impact","volume":"3","author":"Haque","year":"2014","journal-title":"Resources"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116891","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ces.2021.116891","article-title":"Process design within planetary boundaries: Application to CO2 based methanol production","volume":"246","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6396","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aas9793","article-title":"Net-zero emissions energy systems","volume":"360","author":"Davis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2071","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijhydene.2011.10.064","article-title":"Life cycle assessment of various hydrogen production methods","volume":"37","author":"Cetinkaya","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Hydrogen Energy"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Hoekstra, A., Chapagain, A.K., Aldaya, M.M., and Mekonnen, M.M. (2011). The Water Footprint Assessment Manual, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Nykvist, B., Persson, A., Moberg, F., Persson, L., Cornell, S., and Rockstr\u00f8m, J. (2013). National Environmental Performance on Planetary Boundaries: A Study for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1684","DOI":"10.1007\/s11367-015-0984-6","article-title":"Using the planetary boundaries framework for setting impact-reduction targets in LCA contexts","volume":"20","author":"Sandin","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Life Cycle Assess."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"691","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2016.05.146","article-title":"A life cycle assessment (LCA)-based approach to guiding an industry sector towards sustainability: The case of the Swedish apparel sector","volume":"133","author":"Roos","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1406","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2018.04.075","article-title":"How to bring absolute sustainability into decision-making: An industry case study using a Planetary Boundary-based methodology","volume":"634","author":"Ryberg","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"838","DOI":"10.1111\/jiec.12820","article-title":"A framework for development and communication of absolute environmental sustainability assessment methods","volume":"23","author":"Richardson","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Ind. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106339","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecolind.2020.106339","article-title":"Planetary boundary downscaling for absolute environmental sustainability assessment\u2014Case study of Taiwan","volume":"114","author":"Huang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ecol. Indic."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157373","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.157373","article-title":"Metrics for a nature-positive world: A multiscale approach for absolute environmental sustainability assessment","volume":"846","author":"Xue","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13452","DOI":"10.1021\/acssuschemeng.4c02693","article-title":"Ecosystem Science-Based Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Products with and without Climate Justice","volume":"12","author":"Xue","year":"2024","journal-title":"ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"757","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2016.12.048","article-title":"The Circular Economy\u2014A new sustainability paradigm?","volume":"143","author":"Geissdoerfer","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."}],"container-title":["Systems"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/14\/1\/110\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T09:11:27Z","timestamp":1768986687000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/14\/1\/110"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["systems14010110"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/systems14010110","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-8954"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-8954","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]]}}}