Systematic review of recent metrics (2020–2025) for greenness, applicability, and analytical performance with guidelines for practical use

In recent years, the demand for eco-friendly analytical methods with practical applicability and high analytical performance has driven the development of numerous evaluation metrics. This trend aligns with the principles of White Analytical Chemistry (WAC), which expands the scope of analytical science by integrating not only environmental friendliness and safety (green) but also analytical efficiency (red) and practical, economic aspects (blue). Over the last five years, several emerging tools have been introduced, offering more structured and systematic approaches for assessing analytical methods. This review classifies these tools into four main categories: (a) green tools, (b) blue tools, (c) red tools, and (d) multidimensional tools. The first parameter, such as reagent toxicity, solvent consumption, and waste generation, was identified as a key greenness indicator, representing the environmental component of broader analytical sustainability. The second addresses applicability, evaluating cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, and other practical aspects; the third concentrates on analytical performance, covering parameters essential for method validation. The fourth category integrates these aspects into comprehensive frameworks, enabling a balanced assessment across sustainability, applicability, and performance. This review critically compares these tools, outlining their merits and limitations. It also presents practical strategies to improve the greenness of conventional analytical methods. It proposes a novel set of standardized guidelines to ensure the transparent and non-manipulative application of sustainability metrics, addressing a critical gap in current practice. Additionally, our work discusses future directions toward comprehensive, objective, and universally adoptable assessment systems that can guide the next generation of sustainable analytical practices.