It is reasonable to use methods from the environment, health and safety management as well as from life cycle assessment already in early stages of process development. Against the background of poor data availability and data quality applications of metrics in early stages of process development are presented for two case studies. A comparative assessment of two alternative synthesis routes to the production of an enantiomerically pure beta-amino acid has been realized. In addition to the analysis of the mass flows, material costs and different health assessment methods were explored. Using the example of the glutaraldehyde production it is demonstrated how the cumulated energy demand can be calculated with software tools in early stages of process development.