Terminology

The definitions provided in the following list reflect the consensus within the SUSTAIN-6G consortium at the time of the publication of the D2.1 Sustainability baseline, Use Cases, and Baseline Requirements.

These terms may be revised in the future if needed.

Term	Definition	Comment / Source
Sustainability Sustainable development	Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs	United Nations (SDGs); Brundtland report 1987
Key Values (KV)	Key Values (KV) Key Value refers to principles or qualities that individuals or groups deem important, desirable, or intrinsically good that may be addressed or impacted by ICT.	See https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary/eco-design UNEP. 2001. Cleaner production: a guide to information sources.
Key Value Indicator (KVI)	Key Value Indicator (KVI) is a qualitative assessment or quantitative metric used to observe the extent to which first order effects and second order effects align with the identified key values.	NB With reference to the three sustainability pillars, KVIs provide guidance on design, deployment, operations, usage and end-of-life treatment of ICT solutions, by observing: 1) the extent to which ICT solutions align with the Key Values (proactive perspective) AND 2) the extent of the effects of ICT solutions (reactive perspective).
Effect	Effect refers to the result or consequence on the environment, economy or society that follows from ICT existence or usage.	NB Effects can be short term/long term, intended/unintended, reversible/irreversible, desired/undesired, direct/indirect, etc.
Impact	Changes that occur over a long period of time.	Used as per Impact helper website https://www.oulu.fi/en/impacthelper/what-impact
First order effect	This is the direct economic, social or environmental effect associated with the existence of an ICT based solution, and generic processes supporting the deployment and operation of the ICT based solution. These could be positive and/or negative for a stakeholder.
Second order effect	This is the effect induced by the use and application of ICT based solution which includes economic, societal or environmental changes. These could be positive and/or negative for a stakeholder.	NB Examples of second order effects include reduced GHG emissions from reduced travel due to the use of ICTs, more efficient agriculture (e.g., less fertilizer/water consumption) thanks to ICT solutions, increase of video streaming usage due to its ease of use, social media. NB: Second order effects target the intended purpose of use of ICT technology in the vertical sector. Second order effects also consider broader effects that the technology might trigger in society that we do not have full control over.
Needs	Stakeholder-driven, high-level statements describing stakeholders’ conditions or capabilities essential to meet their current and future stakeholders’ existence. Needs are articulated in natural, contextual language, and represent the intents, wants, desires, expectations or perceived constrains of stakeholders.
Sustainability Needs	Stakeholder-driven, high-level statements describing stakeholders’ conditions or capabilities essential to meet their current and future existence, with an emphasis on minimising negative effects and maximising positive effects across the environmental, social, and economic sustainability pillars.	Examples given in the context of SUSTAIN-6G • Environmental: Reduce energy consumption of network infrastructure. • Social: Ensure equitable access to 6G services in underserved regions. • Economic: Support long-term affordability and return on investment for stakeholders. These needs often stem from policy goals (e.g. Green Deal), societal values, or global frameworks (e.g. SDGs).
Requirements	Usable representation of stakeholder needs transformed into unambiguous and verifiable statements that define what a solution is expected to accomplish.
Sustainability Requirements	Sustainability requirements are usable representation of stakeholder needs transformed into unambiguous and verifiable statements that define what a solution is expected to accomplish with an emphasis on minimising negative effects and maximising positive effects across the environmental, social, and economic sustainability pillars.	Examples • Environmental: Base station energy efficiency ≥ 95%; Network must operate on 80% renewable energy by 2030. • Social: Minimum 95% population coverage in rural areas. • Economic: Total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction by 30% over 5G; Reduce operational costs per bit by 90% compared to 5G. These requirements are typically embedded in KPIs, compliance metrics, or standardization targets.
Sustainability pillars	Sustainability pillars are: --environmental sustainability --social sustainability --economic sustainability	NB The term “pillar” is meant to indicate that the chosen set of attributes associated with the area of interest are essential to that area. NB We use “social sustainability” instead of “societal sustainability”.
Environmental sustainability	Environmental sustainability is the ability to maintain an ecological balance in our planet's natural environment and conserve natural resources to support the social and economic wellbeing of current and future generations.
Sustainability aspects	Sustainable 6G refers to the design, development, deployment, operation and end of life treatment of the 6G system in ways that support the sustainability pillars by minimising negative and maximizing positive first order effects across the entire life cycle of the system. 6G for Sustainability refers to how the use of the 6G system supports the sustainability pillars by minimising negative and maximizing positive second order effects.
Sustainability dimensions	Six combinations of sustainability pillars and sustainability aspects
Enablement	Enablement is the positive second order effect covering environmental, social and economic pillars	Definition in ITU-T L.1480: Enablement (also described as the enabling effect) is the reduction of emissions that occur outside a solution's lifecycle or value chain but resulting from the use of that solution. ITU-T’s definition was widened to other environmental aspects as well as societal and economic aspects. It is always about positive – second order effects – covering environmental, societal and economic aspects.
Life cycle	Consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal.	ISO 14044:2006(en) uses “life cycle” and defines it. NB It is used without a hyphen and used as two words.
(environmental) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)	Compilation and assessment of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.	ISO 14044:2006, modified. The term “assessment” replaced the term “evaluation” for alignment of the defined terms in SUSTAIN-6G
Social Life Cycle Assessment (s-LCA)	Compilation and assessment of the socially relevant inputs and outputs and the potential social impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.	ISO 14075:2024(en), modified – “social” was added to the definition. The term “assessment” replaced the term “evaluation” for alignment of the defined terms in SUSTAIN-6G
Life Cycle Costing (LCC)	Methodology for systematic economic assessment of life cycle costs over a period of analysis, as defined in the agreed scope.	UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. (2011b). Towards a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment. NB Assessment is defined via evaluation, but we do not change this, since based on a UNEP definition.
Assessment	Assessment is the systematic process of computing quantitative information and assembling qualitative assertions about characteristics of an action, system, product or service, based on established criteria and evidence.
Sustainability assessment	Sustainability assessment is the systematic process of computing quantitative information and assembling qualitative assertions about characteristics of an action, system, product or service, based on established criteria and evidence, in relation to the sustainability pillars.
Evaluation	Evaluation is the systematic process, which provides interpretation and decision-relevant judgement about the merit, worth, or value of an action, system, product, or service, based on assessed facts in relation to goals and values.
Sustainability evaluation	Sustainability evaluation is the systematic process, which provides interpretation and decision-relevant judgement about the effects of an action, system, product, or service, using collected information to determine whether the effects align with sustainable development.
Reference scenario	Reference scenario is a set of baseline assumptions within an operational context that constitute the basis for the design and dimensioning of the ICT solution and its usage, possibly across multiple use cases.
Sustainable design Sustainability by design	Sustainable design or sustainability by design means embedding environmental, social, and economic sustainability principles directly into the design phase of products, services, and systems, considering Key Performance Indicators and Key Value Indicators for a long-term impact.
Method	A systematic procedure for accomplishing something.	Based on dictionary
Methodology	A system of methods, combined through a systematic process, used in a particular area of study for a specific purpose.
Digital product passport	Digital product passport means a set of data specific to a product that includes the information specified in the applicable delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 4 and that is accessible via electronic means through a data carrier in accordance with Chapter III, Where: - Article 4 is the provision that gives the European Commission the power to adopt delegated acts that will define product or sector-specific requirements, including which data exactly must be included in the DPP for each product group. - Chapter III lays down the rules for the Digital Product Passport, information requirements and data carriers – in other words, how the data must be made accessible.	NB The Definition the EC uses is the Article 2, subpara 1 (28) of the Regulation EU 2024/1781 NB An applicable delegated act is a legally binding Commission act adopted under the ESPR that sets the specific eco-design and Digital Product Passport requirements for a particular product group. NB Currently no delegated act under Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) exist that applies to mobile communication technologies and services. Notably ESPR applies only to physical products. “Services” are outside the scope.
Footprint	Do not use	See first order effect and second order effect.
Handprint	Do not use	See first order effect and second order effect.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)	Quantifiable measure of performance over time for a specific objective	ISO 16481:2025(en): KPI
Sustainable certification Sustainability certification	Sustainability certification is an independent verification that a process, system, product or service meets specific environmental, social, or economic sustainability standards and regulations, to ensure responsible and transparent sustainable practices.	Based on the following definition of certification: Certification is the process by which a third party formally verifies and attests that a product, service, process, or system meets specified standards, requirements, or criteria. It provides an official confirmation or validation that the subject complies with established norms, often related to quality, safety, environmental, or regulatory conditions. Certification typically involves assessment activities such as inspection, testing, and auditing, leading to a certificate or mark of conformity granted by a recognized certification body.