The European Space Agency (ESA) has just launched the invitation to Tender for the second round of Sustainability Impacts Studies of selected ESA activities, marking a new step towards a more sustainable future and aiming at unlocking the positive impact of space projects, applications and services.
The ITT is open until 09 October at 13.00 CEST.
Sustainability and Space: A Strategy for 2040
Aligned with ESA’s Strategy 2040 and the ESA Green Agenda, the agency is committed to becoming a global role model for environmental and social responsibility in space activities.
What ESA is looking for
The aim of this study is to enhance the ability to assess the sustainability benefits of ESA projects and activities by incorporating approaches beyond life cycle assessment, and to maximise both the identified and potential benefits. The objectives include:
- Identifying, proposing, selecting and grouping the most appropriate case studies to be analysed.
- Developing innovative methodologies to measure and communicate the positive impact of ESA’s activities in clear, quantitative terms.
- Identifying opportunities to scale up and amplify these benefits throughout project lifecycles.
- Providing practical guidelines for project managers and industry to effectively integrate sustainability into their work.
Scope of the study
Both ongoing and completed projects are part of the study, with a focus on two main categories:
- Downstream use of space services (e.g., Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation) that enable sustainable practices in other sectors.
- Technology transfer of ESA-derived innovations that contribute to sustainable development or resilience outside the space sector (such as water recycling technologies or remote sensing).
Timeline and Details
Following a pilot phase analysing 16 projects from 2024 to 2025, this initiative will continue with new evaluations through 2026. ESA aims to provide Member States and the public with solid evidence of the societal and environmental value of space activities, while helping industry improve their sustainability performance.
How to Participate
The ITT is open until 09 October at 13.00 CEST.
Discover how to contribute and apply to this key ESA sustainability initiative:
Apply on esa-star
Any questions to the Agency relating to this ITT shall be made exclusively via the dedicated function in esa-star tendering.
