An Indicator-Based Framework for Comprehensive Sustainability Evaluation of Product–Service Systems Across Life Cycle Phases

Product-service systems (PSS) offer significant potential for advancing the circular economy and sustainability. The need for PSS evaluation arises from the requirement to assess design alternatives during the planning and development phases, as well as to monitor performance during the operation phase. The rationale for evaluating PSS at different life cycle phases varies because the necessity for such evaluations depends on the specific circumstances of each case. However existing evaluation methods are fragmented and phase-specific, limiting their applicability across the entire PSS life cycle. To address this gap, this study proposes an indicator-based sustainability evaluation framework composed of (i) a conceptual structure of evaluation, (ii) a database of 182 evaluation indicators, and (iii) a standardized evaluation procedure. The framework operationalizes these motivations through three dimensions—evaluation scope, perspective, and criteria. The effectiveness of the proposed framework was demonstrated through its application to case studies involving Japanese heavy industry manufacturers. In the case study, 31 indicators were selected from the database to assess the economic, environmental, and social aspects of the PSS business model in comparison with the company’s conventional product-sales model. The evaluation revealed that the PSS exhibited higher performance in environmental and social criteria, such as emission reduction and employee satisfaction. This study contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge of PSS evaluation by offering practical means to support consistent and comprehensive PSS evaluation throughout the entire life cycle.