Insights and trends in green engineering for sustainable development

Green engineering aims at crafting technologies, systems, and processes that are environmentally compatible and can support sustainable practices. Green engineering is gaining the interest of researchers, as the world is observing the adverse effects of industrial activities on the environment. However, despite the growing body of research in this area, existing studies are largely fragmented across domains such as energy, materials, and manufacturing, lacking a unified understanding of the field’s evolution and thematic structure. This article aims to conduct a bibliometric and thematic analysis of the green engineering literature available from 1998 to 2025 comprising of 807 articles to identify inclinations for the future. Additionally, the gap and future direction are also discussed. A five-stage methodology is used to conduct this literature review which comprises of data collection, data review, inclusion-exclusion criteria, bibliometric analysis, and thematic evaluation. This analysis offers valuable insights and directions for academic researchers working in green engineering. According to the findings, majority of green engineering researchers focused on sustainable development, renewable energy and environmental protection. The findings reveal a significant surge in research outcome after 2020, driven by global sustainability initiatives and technological advancements. For individuals who are interested in understanding green engineering for sustainable development and environmental safety and its evolution, this paper offers a starting point.