Valuable and rare materials in seawater brine are often discarded during desalination. However, there is an increasing focus on recovering these resources, rather than minimizing their disposal volume, due to the economic and environmental opportunities it can bring. Despite this shift, current Sustainability Assessment (SA) studies in desalination tend to overlook the brine handling and social dimensions, and brine treatment assessments remain predominantly centered on techno-economic dimensions. Therefore, in this work, we propose a comprehensive and transparent framework for the sustainability assessment of integrated desalination and resource recovery options. The framework not only evaluates pre-defined systems but supports the identification of system features of interest, such as products to assess and technologies to include, as well as the transparent selection of indicators when considering specific contexts. To develop this framework, a critical review of the literature on SA in desalination and brine treatment systems was conducted. Looking at the identified gaps, we synthesized the findings and key messages and proposed the integration of Multi-Criteria Analysis and Value-Sensitive Design in the decision-making process. This allows stakeholders to be involved and incorporates their values at different stages of the assessment, making it distinct from traditional SA methods. This framework offers structured guidance to stakeholders on how to carry out qualitative and quantitative assessments while ensuring transparency in the assessment process. This work serves as a foundational contribution to benefit future research on the development of a sustainable desalination industry, valuing the input and involvement of all stakeholders.

Seawater, a rich source of valuable materials, can be efficiently treated for water and circular economy benefits. The transition to resource recovery requires the consideration of societal benefits and costs. This study employs Value Sensitive Design approach, integrating stakeholder values and expectations into technical scenarios design and assessment for integrated seawater desalination in water and energy-scarce areas. This study implements techno-economic models in Python. Four technical scenarios were designed to treat seawater, minimize brine disposal and deal with trade-offs like energy costs. All scenarios achieved zero brine production. However, the trade-off between resource recovery and greenhouse gas emissions was evident, with scenarios emphasizing increased salt recovery leading to larger CO2 emissions. Scenario 1 excelled in terms of electrical energy consumption, emissions, and water production, while Scenario 2 and 3 performed best in terms of water and high-quality salt production. Despite its higher CO2 emissions, Scenario 4 proved most profitable due to chemical production using only electricity-based technologies. The choice of energy source and the assumption of negligible waste heat emissions significantly impacted the environmental outcomes, calling for a closer examination of different energy conditions and grid emissions averages. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring plant designs to regional needs.