Walther Zeug

Dr. Walther Zeug is a researcher and academic specializing in sustainability assessment, life cycle analysis, and bioeconomy. He currently serves as Head of the ISAS working group (Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Societal Systems and Bioeconomy) at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ in Leipzig, a position he has held since July 2025. He also maintains a teaching position at the University of Leipzig, where he lectures on Life Cycle Analyses and Sustainability Assessment of Bioeconomy since 2022.

Zeug's research focuses on integrative, inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research, with particular expertise in life cycle assessment (LCA), input-output modeling, bioeconomy systems, political economy, and democratic economic planning. His methodological approach centers on Holistic and Integrated Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (HILCSA), which he developed to link regional assessments with stakeholders and global sustainability goals. His work bridges technical sustainability assessment methods with socio-economic and political considerations, reflecting his interest in post-growth economics and systemic transformation.

His publication record shows a consistent focus on applying life cycle sustainability assessment to bioeconomy systems, with increasing attention to democratic economic planning and absolute sustainability within planetary boundaries. Recent publications demonstrate his expanding interest in cybernetic approaches to economic planning that can satisfy societal needs within ecological limits. His work spans both technical methodological development and critical analysis of the political economy of sustainability transitions.

• Head of ISAS working group (since 07/2025)
• Postdoc scientist at UFZ (07/2024-06/2025)
• Lecturer at University of Leipzig (since 10/2022)
• Doctoral researcher at UFZ (02/2018-06/2024)

Zeug actively engages with interdisciplinary research teams and stakeholders across academia, policy, and civil society. His work on the BegleitDiP project demonstrates his commitment to participatory and learning sustainability monitoring systems. His recent presentation at the openLCA Conference 2025 on 'Exploring New Frontiers in Absolute Sustainability: Cybernetic Democratic Economic Planning' highlights his cutting-edge research at the intersection of sustainability science and political economy.