Sustainable innovation in nanotechnology-based water treatment: aligning climate change adaptation with industrial ecology and CSR goals

Abstract

Climate change has intensified the global water crisis by making the hydrological cycle more erratic, resulting in severe droughts and floods. Against this backdrop, nanotechnology-enabled water treatment (NWT) has emerged as a transformative solution for bolstering water security. By employing nanoscale materials, such as advanced membranes, adsorbents, and photocatalysts, NWT achieves higher removal efficiencies, selectivities, and operational flexibility than many conventional methods. These technologies can target a broad array of pollutants, including heavy metals, organic contaminants, and pathogens, and enable innovations such as solar-driven photocatalysis and decentralized treatment. This review is novel in linking the NWT to climate adaptation, industrial ecology, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks. We examine how NWT can support closed-loop water reuse and circular resource flows in industrial systems, contributing to sustainable water management, while also aligning with CSR initiatives and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation). Global case studies, from nanofiltration-based industrial wastewater reuse in China to solar-nanotech disinfection in rural communities, illustrate NWT's role in creating resilient, circular water systems. Finally, we identify key knowledge gaps, such as life-cycle impact, techno-economic trade-offs, and regulatory needs, and outline future research directions. This interdisciplinary synthesis clarifies NWT's advantages over conventional treatment and maps a path for integrating nanoscale innovation with sustainability and CSR goals.