How can artificial intelligence support sustainability assessments, and what role can open-source tools and data play in this process? These questions were at the centre of Brightcon 2026, where LOMARTOV colleague Jan Klenner took part in an AI Fishbowl session on the use of AI in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), representing both LOMARTOV and the European project SAGELi.
Exploring AI as an assistant for sustainability assessment
As part of SAGELi, LOMARTOV has contributed to the development of a dashboard designed to visualise the results of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) assessments. The tool also includes an AI-assisted function intended to help users analyse and interpret assessment results.
During the AI Fishbowl session, Jan introduced the dashboard and shared findings from a comparison of three different AI approaches. The research focused on a practical question: which large language model (LLM) is best suited to act as an assistant for users working with the dashboard?
The session provided an opportunity to present this work and discuss the broader role of artificial intelligence in sustainability assessment with other participants. As AI tools become increasingly accessible, understanding their capabilities and limitations in specific applications is essential to identifying where they can provide meaningful support.
Brightcon 2026: collaboration through open tools and data
Hosted by Aalborg University in Denmark and organised by Départ de Sentier, Brightcon brings together researchers, developers and practitioners working with open-source software and data for LCA and environmental sustainability assessment.
Originating from the community around Brightway, an open-source LCA software framework, the conference has expanded to cover a wider ecosystem of tools, datasets and collaborative initiatives. Its programme includes presentations on open datasets, tools for harmonising and maintaining data, and community discussions on making open data a standard practice in sustainability assessment.
This year’s theme, “Collaboration: Mixing Tools, Data and People”, highlighted the importance of connecting disciplines, bridging academic research and industrial applications, and sharing resources rather than duplicating efforts behind closed doors.
For LOMARTOV, participating in Brightcon was an opportunity not only to share our work within SAGELi, but also to exchange knowledge and learn about recent developments in open data, software, assessment methodologies and artificial intelligence.
Bringing new insights into sustainability services
Events such as Brightcon help us stay connected to the evolving sustainability assessment community and explore how new developments can be translated into practical applications.
The insights and discussions from the conference will inform our ongoing work at LOMARTOV, as we continue to assess how advances in methodology, open-source software, data and AI can be integrated into our portfolio of sustainability services.
By combining technical expertise with continuous learning and collaboration, we aim to support robust, informed sustainability assessments and help organisations navigate an increasingly complex landscape of environmental evaluation.
