What Is the ACS Sustainable Chem Eng Impact Factor in 2025?
The direct answer is that the ACS Sustainable Chem Eng impact factor for the 2024 edition (reflecting citations in 2023 to articles published in 2021 and 2022) is 7.1. This figure comes from the 2023 Journal Citation Reports published by Clarivate. The journal, published weekly by the American Chemical Society, covers green chemistry, green engineering, biomass, alternative energy, and life cycle assessment.
What the Impact Factor Measures
The impact factor is a yearly metric calculated by Clarivate that measures the average number of citations received by articles published in a journal over the preceding two years. For ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, the 7.1 value means that articles from 2021 and 2022 were cited an average of 7.1 times each in 2023.
This number places the journal in a strong position within the green chemistry and sustainable engineering space. While impact factors fluctuate year to year, the journal has maintained a figure above 7 for several recent reporting periods. The metric remains one of several tools researchers use to evaluate where to submit their work, though many institutions and funding bodies now consider additional measures like article-level metrics and the h-index.
Journal Scope and Editorial Leadership
The journal, which you can access at ACS Publications, invites letters, articles, features, and perspectives. The editorial focus is on research that addresses sustainability challenges in the chemical enterprise and advances the principles of green chemistry and green engineering.
In 2023, Peter Licence of The University of Nottingham was appointed Editor-in-Chief. Under his leadership, the journal continues to emphasize practical applications of sustainable chemistry, including industrial process improvements and renewable feedstocks.
How the Impact Factor Compares
To put the 7.1 figure in context, it is useful to compare it with other journals in the sustainability and green chemistry field. The table below shows approximate 2023 impact factors for related journals, based on the same Journal Citation Reports data from Clarivate.
| Journal | 2023 Impact Factor |
|---|---|
| ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering | 7.1 |
| Green Chemistry | 9.3 |
| Journal of Cleaner Production | 11.1 |
| Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy | 5.5 |
| Environmental Science & Technology | 11.4 |
These numbers show that ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering sits in the middle of the pack among specialized sustainability journals. It trails broad-scope titles like Environmental Science & Technology but leads more niche publications.
How the Impact Factor Is Calculated
The impact factor for a given year is a simple ratio: citations in that year to articles published in the two previous years, divided by the number of citable articles published in those two years. For the 2023 impact factor of 7.1, Clarivate counted citations received during 2023 to all articles ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering published in 2021 and 2022, then divided by the total number of articles and reviews from those two years.
One nuance: only “citable items” count in the denominator. Editorials, corrections, and news pieces are excluded. This means a journal could theoretically boost its impact factor by publishing fewer but more citable articles, though editors typically focus on maintaining a steady flow of quality research.
Limitations of the Impact Factor
No single metric tells the whole story. The impact factor has well-known limitations:
- It does not account for the quality of individual articles
- It can be influenced by a small number of highly cited papers
- It varies across disciplines (chemistry journals generally have lower impact factors than biomedical journals)
- It does not measure societal impact or real-world application
Researchers should also consider the journal’s rejection rate, review speed, and open access options. Wikipedia’s entry on the journal provides additional background on its history and editorial policies.
For tenure and promotion decisions, many departments now ask for a narrative around the significance of the work rather than a single journal metric. If you are applying for a position or a grant, be prepared to explain why your specific articles matter, not just where they were published.
Key Takeaways
- The ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering impact factor for 2023 is 7.1, as reported in the 2023 Journal Citation Reports.
- The journal covers green chemistry, green engineering, biomass, alternative energy, and life cycle assessment.
- Peter Licence became Editor-in-Chief in 2023.
- The impact factor is a useful but incomplete measure of journal quality; article-level metrics and field-specific norms also matter.
- Authors should consider the journal’s scope, rejection rate, and review timeline alongside the impact factor when deciding where to submit.
