2026 International Conference on Resource Sustainability (icRS 2026)

June 15-17, 2026, Cebu, Philippines

The sustainable development of human society depends on resources. Addressing critical societal challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental protection, requires sustainable management of resources using interdisciplinary approaches.

The International Conference on Resource Sustainability (icRS) series serve as an international platform for researchers and practitioners around the world with diverse background and expertise to share the most recent ideas, outcomes, and practices on resource sustainability.

icRS embraces interdisciplinarity, welcoming contributions from ANY discipline including natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering on ANY aspect of resource sustainability. We define resource broadly, including physical resources, biological resources, and "misplaced" resources:

physical resources: metals, non-metallic minerals, energy, water, etc.
biological resources: food, forestry, land, ecological systems, etc.
"misplaced" resources: air emissions, water pollutants, solid waste, etc.

To encourage participation, we will ONLY call for abstracts to submit for the conference. However, authors will have options to select to submit full papers in addition to abstracts to be considered for special issues in supporting journals.

We also welcome proposals to organize special sessions at icRS 2026.

icRS 2026 is in-person only. There will be no option for online presentations.

icRS 2026 is sponsored by the flagship journal in sustainable resources management Resources, Conservation & Recycling (RCR; 2024 Impact Factor: 10.9) and its sister journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances (RCRADV; 2024 Impact Factor: 6.4). High quality papers presented at icRS 2024 will be recommended to special issues in these journals as well as other supporting journals.

Important Dates

~~January 15, 2026~~ February 15, 2026: Deadline for abstract submission
~~February 15, 2026~~ March 15, 2026: Acceptance notification for abstracts
~~March 15, 2026~~ April 15, 2026: Early-bird registration ends (at least one author should register before Early Bird ends; otherwise an accepted abstract will be removed from the conference program and not be considered for journal special issues; an author can only register for no more than two accepted presentations)
~~May 15, 2026~~ June 1, 2026: Deadline for full paper submission through the conference system (optional)
June 15-17, 2026: Conference
September 1st, 2026: Various: Deadlines for submitting papers to journal special issues (dates vary across journals and will be notified via email).

Committees

icRS 2026 is pleased to have its Advisory Committee composed by the Editorial Boards of RCR and RCRADV and its Scientific Board composed by the Editors of RCR and RCRADV.

Advisory Committee (RCR and RCRADV Editorial Board)

Julian Allwood, University of Cambridge
Annick Anctil, Michigan State University
Sergio Angulo, University of Sao Paulo
Chunguang Bai, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
David Broadstock, National University of Singapore
Jorge de Brito, University of Lisbon Higher Technical Institute
Ichiro Daigo, University of Tokyo
Jo Dewulf, Ghent University
Liang Dong, City University of Hong Kong
Matthew Eckelman, Northeastern University
Jose-Luis Galvez-Martos, IMDEA Energy
Nishant Garg, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Alexandre Bacelar Gonçalves, University of Lisbon
Thomas Graedel, Yale University
Willi Haas, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
Seiji Hashimoto, Ritsumeikan University
Gang He, Baruch College, City University of New York
Monzur Imteaz, Swinburne University of Technology
Md Tasbirul Islam, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Kannan Govindan, University of Southern Denmark
Alissa Kendall, University of California, Davis
Yasushi Kondo, Waseda University
Simonov Kusi-Sarpong, University of Southampton
Gang Liu, Peking University
Yanchen Liu, Tsinghua University
Rui Cunha Marques, University of Lisbon
Daniel Beat Müller, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Kok Siew Ng, University of Oxford
Chi-Sun Poon, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Helmut Rechberger, Vienna University of Technology
Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues，Cardiff University
Heinz Schandl, CSIRO
Lei Shen, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Rafat Siddique, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
Avishreshth Singh, India Institute of Technology Tirupati
Matthew Stasiewicz, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Guido Sonnemann, University of Bordeaux
Meng Sun, Tsinghua University
Valerie Thomas, Georgia Institute of Technology
Jinping Tian, Tsinghua University
Timothy Townsend, University of Florida
Ian Vázquez-Rowe, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Ming-hung Wong, The Education University of Hong Kong
Ernst Worrell, Utrecht University
Beidou Xi, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences
Zhifeng Yang, Guangdong University of Technology
William Young, University of Leeds
Lixiao Zhang, Beijing Normal University
Tieyong Zuo, Beijing University of Technology

Scientific Committee (RCR and RCRADV Editors)

Gisele Azimi, University of Toronto
Fazleena Badurdeen, University of Kentucky
Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati
Zhi Cao, Nankai University
Wei-Qiang Chen, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Steven De Meester, Ghent University
Xiangzheng Deng, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Elham Fini, Arizona State University
Luca Fraccascia, Sapienza University of Rome
Magnus Fröhling, Technical University of Munich
Pezhman Ghadimi, University College Dublin
Oliver Heidrich, Newcastle University
Andrea Hicks, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Melanie Jaeger-Erben, Brandenburg University of Technology
Mitchell Jones, Vienna University of Technology
Ramzy Kahhat, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Vikas Khanna, University of Pittsburgh
Junbeum Kim, University of Applied Sciences Troyes
Shihong Lin, Vanderbilt University
Ruth Mugge, Delft University of Technology
Rupert Myers, Imperial College London
Keisuke Nansai, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
Lanndon Ocampo, Cebu Technological University
Elsa Olivetti, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sergio Pacca, University of Sao Paulo
Shen Qu, Beijing Institute of Technology
Veena Sahajwalla, University of New South Wales
Joseph Sarkis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Sabrina Spatari, Israel Institute of Technology
Gara Villalba, Autonomous University of Barcelona
George Wells, Northeastern University
Yufeng Wu, Beijing University of Technology
Yuan Yao, Yale University
Steven Young, University of Waterloo

Conference Co-Chairs

Anthony SF Chiu, De La Salle University
Dennis Kilongkilong, University of San Jose-Recoletos

icRS General Chair

Ming Xu, Tsinghua University

Organization Committee

Lirong Liu, University of Surrey
Chenyang Shuai, Chongqing University
Tiantian Feng, China University of Geosciences
Bu Zhao, University at Albany, SUNY

Call for Submissions

icRS 2026 welcomes submissions of abstracts, full papers, and special session proposals on topics related to sustainable management of resources from any discipline.

Abstract

All authors who wish to present at the conference should submit an abstract. Abstracts should be submitted in plain text with no more than 300 words. The abstract should be written in clear and concise English and the presentation is oral only. At least one author of an accepted abstract should register in order to keep the presentation in the program.

Full papers (optional)

Only accepted abstracts can submit full papers. Full papers are optional, but are required if to be considered for one of the special issues sponsoring icRS 2026. Full paper template can be downloaded here.

Special session proposal

icRS 2026 welcomes proposals to organize special sessions which focus on topics that are highly relevant and timely to the conference. Special session organizers should solicit interested authors to prepare abstracts on related topics and, if the special session proposal is approved, coordinate submission of the abstracts. A special session is confirmed when the proposal is approved and at least four presentations are accepted and registered.

Special session proposal should include the proposed session title (no more than 80 characters with space), short acronym (no more than 20 characters), rationale of the special session (no more than 300 words), organizer(s) information (name, title, affiliation, email), and information on at least four expected presentations (title, author name, author affiliation).

Submission

Please submit your abstracts, special session proposals, or full papers via https://www.conftool.org/icrs2026

Publication procedure

Authors who want their presentations to be considered for publication in one of the journals supporting the icRS 2026 conference (either special issue or regular issue) need to follow the publication procedure below.

Authors should submit full papers to the conference by the appropriate deadline.
The conference Scientific Committee will evaluate all submitted full papers and decide which paper is invited to which journal for consideration. Authors cannot select the journal themselves. Some of the recommended journals operate on an open‑access‑only model and require the payment of an Article Processing Charge (APC). The notification will be sent shortly after the conference.
The authors can choose whether to accept the invitation. Once submitted, invited papers will go through the appropriate editorial and review processes by the corresponding journals. Receiving an invitation does not guarantee publication.

Registration Information

Registration Link

To register, please visit https://www.conftool.org/icrs2026

Registration Fees

Early Bird rate (on or before April 15, 2026)

Regular: USD$550
Student: USD$450

Full rate (after April 15, 2026)

Regular: USD$700
Student: USD$600

At least one author should register before Early Bird ends; otherwise an accepted abstract will be removed from the conference program and not be considered for journal special issues. An author can only register for no more than two accepted oral presentations.

To be qualified for the student rates, attendees will be asked to provide evidence of student status at registration (e.g., letter from school authority, student ID card showing name and expiration date).

Cancellation and Refund

Cancellations received by the conference secretariat in writing (email) will be accepted. 75% of the registration fee will be refunded if cancellation is received before April 15, 2026. After April 15, 2026, no refund will be issued for cancellation.

Supporting Journals (updating)

These journals (more to come) will support icRS 2026 by inviting selected papers to submit for regular or special issues.

Conference Program

To be updated

Confirmed Plenary Speakers

Stefan Minner

Stefan Minner is a Full Professor for Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the School of Management, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a core-member of the Munich Data Science Institute (MDSI). Currently, he is Vice Dean of Research and Innovation at TUM School of Management. His research interests using methods of operations research, artificial intelligence and machine learning are in global supply chain design, transportation optimization and inventory management. His work was published in many peer reviewed journals, including Management Science, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, Operations Research, Production and Operations Management, Transportation Science, Transportation Research Parts B, C and E, European Journal of Operational Research, and the International Journal of Production Research. For his research output, he is currently listed among the top 1% business professors in German speaking countries by Wirtschaftswoche and among the top 2% researchers worldwide in a citation-based ranking by Stanford University. He serves on several editorial boards of logistics and operations research journals. Currently, Stefan Minner is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Production Economics. Stefan Minner is a fellow of the International Society for Inventory Research (ISIR) and the International Foundation of Production Research (IFPR). He received the PhD supervisory award at TUM School of Management in 2024 and the Science Award for his lifetime achievements by the German Operations Research Society in 2025.

Keynote Speech: Circular Intelligence – Business models, data-driven optimization, and coordination

Sangwon Suh

Sangwon Suh is Xinghua Chair Professor at the School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing. His research examines interactions between the technosphere and the environment, with particular attention to how flows of materials and energy shape sustainability outcomes. His work has contributed to life cycle assessment (LCA) and industrial ecology, advancing both methodological foundations and large-scale empirical applications. His recent research integrates artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, and computational modeling to support scalable sustainability assessment and decision support. The methods and datasets he and his collaborators have developed are used globally in software tools, international standards, policy analyses, and corporate disclosures. Dr. Suh has served as a member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Resource Panel (IRP), as a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and as a member of working groups contributing to international standardization efforts, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). His work has been recognized with the Lifetime LCA Leadership Award from the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA), the Leontief Memorial Prize from the International Input–Output Association (IIOA), the Laudise Medal from the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE), the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, and the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

Raymond R. Tan

Raymond R. Tan is a Distinguished Full Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering, a University Fellow, and the Vice-President for Research and Innovation of De La Salle University. He is a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences and an Academician of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology. Prof. Tan works in the areas of process systems engineering and process integration, and is best known as the co-developer of the carbon emissions pinch analysis technique. He has over 600 Scopus-indexed publications with an h-index of 66. He is a founding editor-in-chief of Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability, an associate editor of Sustainable Production and Consumption, and an editorial board member of other scientific journals. He is also a multi-awarded academic who has been listed in the Scopus database of the top 2% of the world’s scientists since 2019 and in the Reuters “Hot List” of the 1,000 most globally influential climate researchers.

Keynote Speech: Resource constraints and enablers of deep decarbonization

Fengqi You

Fengqi You is the Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering at Cornell University. He serves as Co-Director of the Cornell University AI for Science Institute (CUAISci) and the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA), and as Director of the Cornell AI for Sustainability Initiative (CAISI). His research advances systems engineering theory and computational methods, with applications in materials informatics, energy systems, digital agriculture, and sustainability. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in journals including Nature, Science, and PNAS. His research work has been featured on numerous journal covers and widely covered by major international media outlets. He has received over 30 national and international honors and serves in editorial roles for several academic journals.

Venue

Conference Venue

icRS 2026 will be held at bai Hotel Cebu, a contemporary 4-star hotel strategically located in Mandaue City, at the heart of the Cebu–Mactan metropolitan area. Situated just a short drive from Mactan-Cebu International Airport and conveniently positioned between Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City, the hotel offers easy access to the region’s key business and tourism hubs.

bai Hotel Cebu is not only a premier destination for business and leisure travelers but also a vibrant cultural and culinary hub. Guests can enjoy spectacular harbour and city views from the hotel’s ultra-modern facilities, which include 668 spacious guestrooms, eight distinctive dining venues, and a rooftop pool. The hotel also features 13 versatile function rooms, ideal for meetings, conferences, and special events, all designed with contemporary aesthetics that evoke openness and modern luxury.

As a proud member of Worldhotels, bai Hotel Cebu delivers international standards of service while embracing its identity as Your Host in the South. Whether you're exploring the nearby cultural attractions or focusing on conference activities, the hotel provides a secure, comfortable, and inspiring environment for all attendees.

About Cebu

Cebu city, often called the “Queen City of the South,” is the bustling urban heart of the Visayas region in the Philippines. A dynamic blend of the old and the new, Cebu City is famous for its historical sites, vibrant festivals, and energetic atmosphere. Discover centuries-old landmarks such as Magellan’s Cross and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, stroll down Colon Street—the country’s oldest street—or explore lively shopping districts and modern business hubs. Food lovers will delight in Cebu’s local specialties like lechon (roast pig) and dried mangoes. As a thriving metropolis, Cebu City offers a colorful mix of Filipino tradition and modern cosmopolitan living.

Weather in June

June in Cebu City is warm and humid, with average temperatures ranging between 27°C and 32°C. The city experiences occasional rain showers during this month, as June marks the start of the rainy season, but there are still plenty of sunny intervals for city adventures.

Places to Visit

Travel, Accommodation and Visa

Hotels

We encourage all participants to stay at the conference hotel, bai Hotel Cebu, for the full meeting experience. Conveniently located in Mandaue City, the hotel offers easy access to the conference venue, along with a range of on-site amenities including multiple dining options, a rooftop pool, and spacious guestrooms with stunning harbour and city views.

For more information and to make a reservation, please visit the official hotel website: https://www.baihotels.com/. For special conference/discount rate (including breakfast), participants may book directly via reservations@baihotel.com.ph or through asanchez@baihotel.com.ph using the code "JUNE 2026_icRS".

- Premier Room (Single): Php 4,500/night

- Premier Room (Double): Php 5,000/night (As of Feb 25, the exchange rate is about 59 Php = 1 USD)

Due to price and exchange rate fluctuations, participants may also use booking.com or agoda.com, sometimes the price is almost the same or better.

A variety of nearby hotels are also available in the surrounding areas of Mandaue City, Cebu City, and Lapu-Lapu City, offering additional options to suit different preferences and budgets. Some of them are listed below: