Traditional　material　design　focuses　primarily　on　performance,　properties,　structure,　and　synthesis.　Growing　environmental　awareness　necessitates　the　integration　of　sustainability　considerations　into　material　design　and　selection.　This　paper　introduced　an　approach　that　embeds　the　eco-design　method　within　material　comparison　to　balance　performance　requirements　and　environmental　sustainability.　Five　types　of　aluminum　alloys　were　examined　to　demonstrate　and　validate　the　proposed　method.　The　alloys　are　commonly　used　in　shipbuilding　and　have　varying　contents　of　the　rare　earth　element　Erbium.　The　alloys　were　assessed　through　a　performance-requirement　matrix,　life　cycle　assessment,　and　exergy　calculation　to　evaluate　their　performance,　environmental　impact,　and　resource　consumption.　A　binary　integrated　decision　model　was　created　to　compare　the　five　alloys　based　on　either　their　performance　and　environmental　impact　or　their　performance　and　resource　consumption.　Additionally,　ternary　integrated　decision　models　were　formulated　to　yield　a　comprehensive　analysis　of　the　five　alloys,　considering　all　three　aforementioned　factors.　A　matrix　model　was　established　to　allow　for　comparative　assessment　no　matter　how　many　indicators　are　involved.　Furthermore,　a　model　based　on　the　enumeration　method　was　presented　to　mitigate　the　bias　introduced　by　weighting　factors.　This　methodological　approach　aids　in　selecting　the　most　suitable　alloys　for　diverse　scenarios,　thereby　enhancing　the　sustainability　of　material　design.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd