Sustainability of Analytical Methods Index (SAMI) as an SDG-based tool for chemical analysis

Sustainability in chemical analysis requires holistic evaluation tools that extend beyond environmental impact to encompass economic feasibility, social responsibility, and practical applicability. Current greenness metrics, while valuable, remain largely confined to ecological dimensions and do not explicitly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To bridge this gap, we introduce the Sustainability of Analytical Methods Index (SAMI), the first SDG-based framework (available at bit.ly/SAMI2026) for assessing analytical methods. SAMI employs a structured scoring system that quantifies positive and negative contributions across all 17 SDGs, supported by a color-coded visualization scheme for intuitive interpretation. Case studies demonstrate SAMI's ability to highlight strengths, limitations, and trade-offs of diverse analytical procedures, from conventional chromatographic methods to innovative low-cost, portable devices. Compared with existing greenness and practicality metrics, SAMI provides a more comprehensive, globally relevant perspective on the sustainability of analytical methods. By explicitly linking analytical practices to the SDGs, SAMI offers researchers, industry, and regulators a powerful tool to guide method selection, optimization, and innovation toward long-term sustainable development. • First SDG-based framework for assessing analytical methods. • SAMI employs a structured scoring system that quantifies contributions across all 17 SDGs. • Case studies demonstrate SAMI's ability to highlight strengths, limitations, and trade-offs. • SAMI provides a comprehensive perspective on the sustainability of analytical methods.