Earth Day 2026: The Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI) — A New Sustainability Tool for The Evaluation of Method Practicality
Natalia Manousi from TU Wien, Austria, describes the value of combining the Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI) with established metrics to develop methods that are reliable, efficient, and suitable for "real-world" applications.
Analytical chemistry is evolving toward more holistic method evaluation. While traditional metrics focus on analytical performance and green analytical chemistry addresses environmental impact, practical applicability is often overlooked. White Analytical Chemistry integrates these dimensions—analytical (red), environmental (green), and practical (blue).1 Within this framework, the Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI) evaluates method practicality, considering factors such as sample preparation, automation, cost, and throughput.2