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Social life cycle assessment was used to assess the social performance of the main economic crops in the area of the sugarcane bio-complex in Thailand. This bio-refinery produces sugar, electricity, ethanol, and bio-chemicals using sugarcane as the feedstock. It is considered the first bio-hub of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This study compares the social performances and identifies the social hotspots of the main economic crops. In addition, the paper discusses changes in the social performance of different stakeholder groups when switching from other crops to sugarcane which is the main feedstock of the bio-refinery. A sensitivity analysis of two different weighting approaches was undertaken to select the proper one to support policy making. The findings revealed that the social performance of all crops was quite similar in several social categories. However, sugarcane scored less in some aspects such as lack of labor and machinery for harvesting, and causing health and safety issues for the local community. This was due to the association between manual sugarcane harvesting and the problem of sugarcane burning. It was recommended that the farmers be supported with more sugarcane harvesting machines on rent. This would benefit all the sugar factories, farm owners, as well as the local community. The key factor determining farmers' social performance is the selling price of agricultural products. To reflect the current socio-economic situation of the agricultural sector, the social performance assessment should be performed annually due to price fluctuations. Enhancing sustainable development of the first ASEAN bio-hub using social life cycle assessment approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The environmental and economic benefits of applying smart approaches for the control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings have been extensively investigated and documented in the literature. However, considering the paradigm shift from environmental and economic concerns towards broader sustainability considerations, as well as the lack of studies covering the social pillar, this study presents a scoping review to identify the social impacts attributed to the use phase of smart HVAC control systems in commercial buildings. Methods: The relevant literature, originating from both academic and grey literature sources, were identified and reviewed through a meticulous search, data charting and analysis process, in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)'s Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The inclusion criteria, categorised into 'participants', 'concept', 'context' and 'types of evidence sources', were first determined. A search strategy and a three-stage screening process were then applied to locate and analyse the relevant records. Results and discussions: In total, 133 records were included in this study. From this review, five main social themes were identified, namely, thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), privacy, security and employment. Both consumers and workers emerged as the stakeholder groups that were related to the use of smart HVAC control systems. The social impacts related to thermal comfort were measured by means of a wide range of indicators, but only a limited number of suitable indicators have been identified for other social themes. In general, the deployment of smart HVAC control systems resulted in positive outcomes for thermal comfort, IAQ and employment. Conversely, for both privacy and security, the users of buildings were reported to be negatively impacted. Conclusions: Measures to alleviate negative social repercussions, as well as potential indicators to measure the use phase social impacts related to smart HVAC control systems, have been proposed and discussed. Further research is needed to evaluate how existing and prospective indicators can be used for assessing these use phase social impacts of smart HVAC control systems in a manner that is consistent with the social life cycle assessment methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social life cycle assessment (S‐LCA) has garnered significant attention in academia and the business sector. To enhance the guidance of S‐LCA application and future research, it is imperative to conduct a thorough analysis of its research status and challenges, considering the extensive development of methodological approaches. Leveraging bibliometric and content analysis on 452 articles from the Web of Science database, this study examines publication trends and delineates the conceptual structure and coupling themes within the S‐LCA field. Through an amalgamation of bibliometric findings and a comparative analysis between life cycle assessment and S‐LCA, the study outlines prominent challenges. Five primary issues related to inventory construction and data conversion, as identified through content analysis, are presented. This article comprehensively reveals a deep understanding of research status and faced challenges, serving as a complement for future practitioners and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry has enormous impacts on the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. To mitigate these impacts, several researchers have explored a variety of methods that link Building Information Modeling (BIM) with methodologies for a holistic evaluation of sustainability, such as Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). However, the complete integration of BIM-LCSA still remains unresolved, with a series of challenges that must be overcome. Consequently, the aim of this article is to identify the advances and challenges of BIM-LCSA integration focused on buildings through a literature review of the existing solutions presented by researchers worldwide. The PRISMA 2020 protocol is used. A total of 135 articles published between 2010–2023 are reviewed for bibliometric analysis. Furthermore, an exhaustive analysis of the case studies is carried out, by taking into account the structure proposed by ISO 14040. The authors identify a gap in the literature mainly regarding the full integration of the three dimensions with BIM that facilitates a simultaneous on-the-air assessment, in addition to the lack of a standardized LCSA method of calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper presents a transparent and rigorous methodological approach to conducting a case study of social performance (SP) within the conventional life cycle of Canadian beef. The objective was to explore the potential benefits and risks (or hotspots) of practices on Canadian beef farm businesses (BFBs) and slaughter operations (BSOs) to establish valid benchmarks and a social sustainability roadmap for decision-makers to improve SP. Methods: This study undertook a novel and participatory approach to social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). Respondents from both within and at-arms-length to the beef value chain were engaged to identify SP practices and perceptions and develop the life cycle inventory. The goal and scope, inventory, assessment, and interpretation were conducted in a three-phased approach: (i) scoping; (ii) practice-based assessment; and (iii) deep-dive assessment. Data collected through mixed methods, including Q method, interviews, surveys, and literature review, were assessed using a type I (reference scale) approach and interpreted through critical interpretive synthesis. Organizational SP was explored at BFBs and BSOs, considering the following stakeholders: value chain actors, farmers, employees, and cattle. Results and discussion: Outcomes from the applied approach explore the interrelations between organizations and stakeholders along the value chain. Impact categories concerning labour management, people's health and safety, and animal care were prioritized for deep-dive assessment. Subcategories included novel topics, like recruitment and retention and access to mental health resources. A range of potential benefits and areas for improving SP were identified at BFBs and BSOs. Potential risks from SP were identified for stakeholders from working hours, communication and dispute resolution, animal transport, and personal protective equipment practice areas. Results informed strategic activities for the National Beef Sustainability Strategy. Conclusion: This study contributes to the social sustainability discourse in livestock systems by demonstrating a qualitative approach to S-LCA that can be replicated by practitioners to explore valid and locally specific social dimensions of sustainability. Practitioners may consider the approach and results in future studies to better capture and manage the complex and dynamic nature of livestock systems, leading to more effective social sustainability decisions that incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a comprehensive Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (S-CBA) conducted as part of a research project, studying biofuel production for the maritime and aviation sectors, from various types of non-food waste biomasses. The inclusion of social considerations complements and expands on the environmental and economic ones. The importance of social group criteria was determined through expert questionnaires, leading to the identification of social impacts groups and social criteria from stakeholders across participating countries. The results successfully identified and quantified social impacts, and align with those reported in similar cases in relevant literature. Social Cost-Benefits, monetarizing social factors, demonstrated several social benefits, including reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. However, it also highlighted social costs, such as Economic Costs associated with the initial investment. The study revealed critical social hotspots within the impact categories, making significant strides in understanding the social impacts of biofuel production, providing valuable insights for decision-makers, and contributing to the broader goal of sustainable and socially responsible biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Tomatoes are a significant product of the Mediterranean region and a crucial component of the Mediterranean diet. The formulation of dried tomato products enriched with proteins and bioactive compounds could be a strategic approach to promote adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Six different novel tomato products were analyzed using different protein enrichment sources (pea proteins and leaf proteins) and drying technologies (hot‐air dryer, microwave vacuum dryer, and conventional dryer). The novelty of this approach lies in combining product‐specific criteria with global societal factors across their life cycles. Using 21 criteria and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) survey of experts, the social sustainability score for each product was determined through a multi‐criteria assessment.The tomato product's life cycles have minimal regional impacts on unemployment, access to drinking water, sanitation, or excessive working hours. However, they affect discrimination, migrant labor, children's education, and access to hospital beds significantly. The study identified nutritional quality as the top criterion, with the most sustainable design being a tomato bar enriched with pea protein and processed using microwave vacuum drying.The study revealed that integrating sensory and nutrient compounds into social sustainability assessments improves food sustainability and provides a practical roadmap for social life cycle assessments of food products. It emphasized the importance of considering global social issues when reformulating Mediterranean products to ensure long‐term adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Incorporating social factors into sustainability scores can also enhance the effectiveness of product information for conscious customers. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Remanufacturing is a process in which used products are professionally repaired or upgraded to restore their performance to new products, but the uncertainties and complexities of the used products can greatly affect the remanufacturability. Blindly remanufacturing used products with uncertain remanufacturability can weaken the economic and environmental advantages. To improve remanufacturing efficiency, focusing on the three-dimensional sustainability of environment, economy, and society, this study presents a quantity remanufacturability assessment method for used products based on life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) theory, which we call Re-LCSA method. Methods: The remanufacturability assessment method assesses the environmental sustainability using life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques to compare the environmental benefits of product remanufacturing with new manufacturing. Economic sustainability is assessed by using life cycle costing (LCC) theory to compare the cost–benefit of product remanufacturing with new manufacturing. Social sustainability is assessed by using Dreyer's (Int J Life Cycle Assess 15:247–259, 2010a), (Int J Life Cycle Assess 15:385–402, 2010b) social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodology to analyze the factors of human rights, working conditions, and social economic related to product remanufacturing companies. The three dimensions of sustainability are respectively expressed by an indicator to assess the remanufacturability. Results and discussion: A used 5-year-old engine is used to illustrate the remanufacturability assessment process. The integrated environmental impact indicator of new manufacturing is more than five times that of remanufacturing, indicating that engine remanufacturing has great advantages over new manufacturing in reducing environmental pollution and energy consumption. The total remanufacturing cost accounts for approximately 50% of new manufacturing costs, with the greatest advantages found in the "raw material production" and "parts production" stages. The social analysis results show that engine remanufacturing performs well in terms of "human rights" and "social economy", but has lower scores in "working conditions." Conclusions: The Re-LCSA method provides an efficient means to identify the remanufacturing feasibility of used products and avoid unnecessary resource waste. It can also help in exploring ways to conserve resources, protect environment, and improve social conditions through remanufacturing. However, the assessment results depend largely on the underlying assumptions and investigation data; therefore, the accuracy of data and system boundaries must be ensured. In addition, the sustainability result is remarkably affected by weighting and value criteria, and it should be thoroughly investigated for rational decision making. Future work should focus on improving the adaptability of this method by developing an expert knowledge system for rational decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy concept has grown in popularity in recent decades as a potential method to offset the waste produced by the linear economy model. In this study, the authors proposed an update to the ReSOLVE framework that includes social impacts and uses decision variables based on the ECOGRAI methodology to facilitate a system‐wide analysis to support sustainable decision‐making. After the updated framework was outlined, it was employed in a theoretical case study to evaluate the current state of the poultry industry and determine hotspots where circular economy metrics could be implemented to benefit affected stakeholders. While the poultry sector was used as a case study, the proposed framework can be applied with modified indicators in other agricultural sectors. This work demonstrated that decision makers can improve the agriculture sector's high social and environmental impact by applying a framework that integrates ReSOLVE circular economy principles and social impact assessment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa is a natural resource that plays a very important role globally, being one of the most produced and traded commodities. As a labour-intensive product and considering that its cultivation involves about 50 million people globally, it seems significant to explore its social sustainability. In light of this, this research aimed to map social risks within the cocoa supply chain from a life cycle perspective. Therefore, the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) was used, following the PSILCA database, considering the two most influential countries in its production, i.e., Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. The results showed that there could be a very high risk that more than half of the cocoa globally is produced through child labour and with wages too low to guarantee workers a decent living, returning incomes of $30–38/month. Forced labour is much less frequent than child labour, while cocoa from Ghana may induce a high risk of improper work, considering the 30.2 h per week worked by farmers. This is mainly due to the low association power of 10–16%, which reveals a high risk that workers may not organise themselves into trade unions. Finally, at 23–25%, there is also a very high risk of discrimination due to the high presence of migrant labour. Therefore, the S-LCA results showed that the cocoa industry is still characterised by socially unsustainable sourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen locomotives offer a promising cleaner alternative to conventional diesel locomotives. However, hydrogen production methods and energy sources may introduce additional emissions. This paper evaluates the environmental and potential social impacts of hydrogen locomotives in Canada from a life cycle perspective, encompassing the locomotive's retrofitting components and the fuel life cycle. Results show varying emissions across different hydrogen production pathways and regions. Electrolysis has the highest emission reduction potential in provinces with cleaner electricity sources, such as Manitoba, Quebec and British Columbia, resulting in up to 47% reduction in life cycle emissions. Conversely, in Alberta and Saskatchewan, emissions are approximately three times higher than diesel due to reliance on fossil fuel-derived electricity. The social assessment underscores the imperative of considering emissions, costs, and technical implications to address potential social impacts. This positions hydrogen locomotives with significant challenges that necessitate resolution before they can be considered a superior alternative to diesel. • A social and environmental life cycle analysis of hydrogen locomotives is provided. • Various hydrogen production methods and different regions are analyzed. • Emissions from fuel production are the primary drivers of the lifecycle emissions. • The region's electricity source highly impacts hydrogen locomotive evaluation. • Hydrogen locomotives pose potential social challenges that need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City logistics faces critical challenges in optimising resource management, utilising time effectively, and reducing costs, particularly in the context of growing environmental concerns. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Off-Peak Hour Deliveries (OPHD) have emerged as promising solutions. Despite considerable research efforts, more research is needed to evaluate the impacts of using BEVs during OPHD. To address this need, this paper describes how data from a case study in Stockholm were used to develop a comprehensive overview of the sustainability impacts of OPHD carried out with BEV. A multi-method approach was applied, including an indicator framework, Life Cycle Costing, and a Social Life Cycle Assessment to consider all sustainability dimensions holistically. Our findings reveal that, while BEVs are not yet cost-competitive with Internal Combustion Engine vehicles for daytime operations, OPHD can mitigate these costs by increasing the vehicle utilisation and distances travelled. Furthermore, OPHD with BEV can offer substantial benefits by increasing accessibility and reducing emissions. However, challenges such as increased employee-related transport costs and infrastructure needs must be addressed. The main contributions of this paper are practical, as we add knowledge about the impacts of OPHD using BEV, and methodological, as we used a multi-method approach to holistically assess sustainability impacts. Future research should focus on long-term impacts and refine assessment methods to support the sustainable development of urban logistics. This study highlights the importance of using holistic sustainability assessment to inform and enable stakeholders and decision-makers to leverage the full potential of OPHD when shifting to more sustainable transport.

This paper establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating the social life cycle of public services through a thorough examination of existing literature published from 2013 to 2022. The central research question is to determine how insights from this literature review can contribute to the advancement of social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodologies within the public sector. Methods: To address this question, we conducted a mixed-methods analysis of data sourced from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The quantitative analysis determined the total number of S-LCA and SO-LCA papers published by main journals, and main authors. The qualitative analysis highlighted the different themes and research objectives addressed in the work relating to the S-LCA of products/services and organizations. Our findings indicate that a total of 222 papers on S-LCA were published across 94 journals. However, there is a noticeable gap in research specifically targeting public services, with most studies concentrating on products, services, and organizations. Despite the absence of direct scientific data, our study identified 17 actors, 74 impact subcategories, and 178 indicators that are potentially relevant to the S-LCA of public services. Given the unique characteristics of public services, it is imperative to develop tailored stakeholder categories, subcategories, and performance indicators for each service type. This approach will facilitate more accurate assessments of the social impacts of public services, thereby aiding both the scientific community and S-LCA practitioners in their evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analysis of the importance of the social impact of e-waste in African countries. • Presentation of the S-LCA methodology. • Presentation of the Social Hotspot Analysis of e-waste in Ghana and Nigeria. • Definition of a possible setoff indicators for assessing the Social impact of e-waste with site specific data. The transition towards a circular economy, which has emerged as a promising approach to achieving sustainable development and which involves the reuse of e-waste, may cause significant social impacts on vulnerable groups if it is not addressed in a proper manner. The European Union has established a clear circular economy plan with particular attention on e-waste treatment. However, a considerable amount of e-waste still ends up outside Europe, mainly in African Countries. Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) has been recognized as a valid methodology to assess the social impacts caused by products or services to stakeholders involved along the life cycle perspective. Most S-LCA studies are conducted in the formal sector; however, informal sectors constitute a crucial element of the economy in emerging and developing countries. In particular, formal waste management practices are complemented by the informal sector in Indonesia, African and Latin American countries. The informal sector represents an important support element. Few studies have been conducted on the social impacts of the e-waste sector and even fewer have been implemented following the guidelines of Social Life Cycle Assessment for Products and Organizations. However, we are still far from a complete overview of the social impacts in the e-waste sector, in particular for developing countries. Knowing that most e-waste through illegal exportation ends up in African countries, a social hotspot analysis has been conducted on the electronic sector in African countries, focusing on Nigeria and Ghana, which are the most affected. The study also identifies a set of indicators needed to assess the social performance of e-waste in Nigeria and Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The growth of global food delivery (FD), which could reach a market value of 1510 billion dollars by 2027, could raise significant sustainability concerns, especially in terms of the social impact related to the expansion of the gig economy. This study, therefore, aims to analyze the social sustainability of the FD, taking Italy as a case study. The results could be a baseline to suggest practices that could promote a more socially responsible FD sector. Methods: Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) was used, following the guidelines of the Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) and considering four categories of stakeholders (workers, value chain actors, society, and local community), 11 risk categories, and 13 subcategories, mainly based on both the availability of data and their adherence to the objectives of the study and FD. Results and discussion: The main risks are associated with low wages, improper working hours, high accidentality, and approximation in food handling. Specifically, the wages of riders, 23% of whom are migrants, are just 14% above the poverty line in Italy and 67% below the median income. With 30-h work weeks, moreover, riders may face high risks of economic vulnerability. Stressful working conditions and the absence of mandatory protective equipment have resulted in 17 fatalities × 100,000 workers and 25 accidents × 1000 workers, which could generate a medium risk that violations of labor laws will occur. All this is also due to the low unionization in the Italian FD. Finally, results also show a flaw in food safety, as riders are not required to have HACCP and ATP attestation. Conclusions: Italian legislation and the business models of FD companies are still shown to be insufficient to guarantee the fairness of protections for riders, which are substantiated by low wages, high accident rates, poor union rights, and improper working hours. In addition, doubts are raised about the hygiene of containers carrying food during transport, as they could induce a potential microbiological health risk for consumers, especially related to food handling during transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The mining industry plays a critical role in the global economy by providing raw materials and metals for various sectors, but it is also associated with environmental and social impacts. This paper presents a comparison of the findings from social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) with those obtained from a stakeholders' risk perception analysis. The goal is to provide a multifaceted view on the challenges faced by the mining industry in achieving sustainable practices. Methods: This research reports the results of S-LCA and stakeholders' risk perception analysis used to evaluate the social dimension of sustainability in two different European Horizon 2020 projects: (i) recovery of secondary metals and minerals from mining residues through bioleaching and chemical precipitation (project NEMO with a demonstration site in Finland), and (ii) recycling of wastewater and valorization of tailings from mining activities to create geopolymers through chemical activation (project ITERAMS with a demonstration site in Portugal). Results: The S-LCA conducted in NEMO reveals that fair salary is the social category presenting the highest risk (22% of the total). This risk is unequally shared between foreground activities (4%) and background activities (18%), and it occurs mostly in Finland. The S-LCA in ITERAMS shows that the low percentage of employees organized in trade unions accounts for the highest social risk (14%), occurring mostly with the background activities (8.5% out of the 14%). The risk perception analysis conducted among involved stakeholders for both projects highlighted that the analysis performed using only S-LCA databases overestimated some social issues (e.g., access to biomass, trade unionism) that were not relevant for local stakeholders while underestimating, or even ignoring, other social issues that are considered important by the same stakeholders (e.g., health and safety, housing prices). Conclusions: The two case studies show the critical need to integrate locally gathered data from stakeholders directly involved in the projects with the broader insights offered by sector-level S-LCA. Local analysis can capture site-specific dynamics and social risk perceptions, while S-LCA can extend the analysis to the entire supply chain. Both analyses highlighted that one of the main limitations of the current S-LCA framework is the omission of the positive environmental, social and economic effects resulting from the proposed projects. Ultimately, these case studies provided valuable insights for the stakeholders involved in both projects, facilitating information sharing concerning the primary social risks associated with the development and implementation of the technologies proposed by the projects. This empowers decision-makers with the information required to formulate strategies that can enhance the sustainability of the bioleaching and geopolymer technologies used to valorize mining residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effects of tourism extend beyond purely economic considerations; they also have an impact on both the environment and people. Development of tools and procedures that foster consensus among practitioners and enable the measurement and benchmarking of impacts are required for tourism managers to be able to work on lowering and mitigating the sector's effects, while enhancing the positive benefits. In this study a methodological proposition to assess the social impacts of tourism packages is presented. Aim and scope: This study adapts and tests for the first time a social evaluation technique, the Product Social Impact Assessment (PSIA) method, to assess the social implications of tourism products and services. It is iteratively tested on 9 tourism packages in Mediterranean Protected Areas. Numerous parties, including managers of protected areas and private tourism stakeholders, have engaged in this process at various stages, such as developing the packages or supplying the data required for the assessment. Conclusions: The methodology tested appears appropriate to quantify and qualify the social impacts of tourism packages and is valid for enhancing the social performance since positive progress between the two testing faces was registered. This study is a step towards standardizing the social assessment of tourism packages following a Life Cycle Assessment approach, and future developments are needed to make the approach proposed in the paper adequate to assess the social impacts of the upstream and downstream components of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a comprehensive Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (S-CBA) conducted as part of a research project, studying biofuel production for the maritime and aviation sectors, from various types of non-food waste biomasses. The inclusion of social considerations complements and expands on the environmental and economic ones. The importance of social group criteria was determined through expert questionnaires, leading to the identification of social impacts groups and social criteria from stakeholders across participating countries. The results successfully identified and quantified social impacts, and align with those reported in similar cases in relevant literature. Social Cost-Benefits, monetarizing social factors, demonstrated several social benefits, including reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. However, it also highlighted social costs, such as Economic Costs associated with the initial investment. The study revealed critical social hotspots within the impact categories, making significant strides in understanding the social impacts of biofuel production, providing valuable insights for decision-makers, and contributing to the broader goal of sustainable and socially responsible biofuel production.

Studying the social dynamics and development potential of agricultural enterprises is fundamental to promoting sustainable territorial growth. This study aims to assess the impact of growers of small and medium-sized hydrangea crops in the Colombian province of La Paz through a social life cycle analysis (S-LCA), shedding light on their fundamental roles as catalysts for regional development. For this purpose, the prioritization of actors and performance indicators is conducted following the methodologies proposed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Social variables are identified using the subcategory assessment method (SAM) to strengthen and assess indicators of low and high performance. Sixteen subcategories are qualitatively assessed, with 56% falling short of performance benchmarks, 25% meeting the benchmarks, 13% exceeding the benchmarks with proactive behavior, and 6% having potential with effort. Priority areas were identified as local employment and economic development contributions. This study highlights the significant impact of hydrangea production on territorial development, emphasizing the need to improve social security and health conditions for workers. Environmental actions to reduce agrochemical use are also advocated. This study proposes transforming the social life cycle analysis into an opportunity to evaluate actors' performance and their contribution to territorial and sustainable development. It emphasizes the importance of assessing social impacts, ethical implications, and community relations throughout the crop value chain, with governance being a crucial aspect for territorial development. This study advocates the integration of these analyses into farm operations, serving as a benchmark for similar assessments across various agricultural activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chocolate is a widely consumed product and consumers are increasingly interested in its sustainability. However, the lack of scientific studies covering the social dimension hinders a holistic assessment of the sustainability. A social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) was conducted in cooperation with a Colombian chocolate manufacturer following the Guidelines for S-LCA of Products and Organizations 2020. This study represents the first application of S-LCA in the chocolate sector covering both cocoa cultivation and chocolate manufacturing. Methods: The study aimed to identify the main social hotspots within the value chain of a dark chocolate product, as well as to identify the potential and actual social performance of this product. The stakeholders assessed in the study were workers (in the cocoa plantation and manufacturing plant), society, and the local community. Primary inventory data was collected through on-site semi-structured interviews as well as through the review of company reports. Secondary data used to build the reference scales for impact assessment were taken from national regulations and best practice standards. In total, 16 subcategories were assessed. Results and discussion: The overall results showed an outcome of at least a compliance level (0), and a performance beyond compliance (+ 1 or + 2) for the local community and society. The latter was attributable to the role of the company as an agent of change in a region heavily impacted by violence and poverty. Furthermore, numerous interviewees stressed the importance of companies in the Colombian post-conflict context to re-integrate former conflict actors back into the labor market. For workers, the results also indicated a performance on the compliance level or above, with child labor and health and safety scoring as + 2 and social benefits/social security scoring as + 1. Areas of improvement were identified in subcategories where the score was on the compliance level (0) such as working hours, fair salary, equal opportunities, and employment relationships. Conclusions: A main challenge encountered was the definition of reference scales for subcategories with no recognized standards applicable to the socio-political context. This suggested a necessity for further S-LCA applications in regions with armed conflicts. The study provided insight into the social sustainability of the chocolate industry across the life cycle, covering the cocoa plantation and the manufacturing plant. At the same time, it provided the company with a tool to measure the positive and negative social impacts of their actions on stakeholders and redirect efforts towards the areas most in need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A sustainability assessment of SCCA produced from bio-wastes has been performed. • CAFIPLA reduces the environmental impact and social risk of the benchmark technology. • The plant is profitable as long as the product is sold above 0.49 €/kg. Bio-based products are a fast-growing market due to increasing consumer consciousness for sustainability. Although this is per se a positive trend, it leads to a higher demand for organic feedstocks which normally comes from primary agricultural sources and can lead to undesired deforestation or other land use changes to farmland. At the same time, Europe is facing another challenge related with the treatment of organic wastes. In this context, the project CAFIPLA developed an integrated process to convert heterogeneous organic materials to building blocks for the bio-based economy. This study performs a life cycle sustainability assessment (life cycle assessment, life cycle costing and social life cycle assessment) of the production of short chain carboxylic acids (SCCA) employing municipal bio-wastes as a feedstock. In addition to a hot-spot identification to detect the main sources of impact, a comparison of the novel technology with the current benchmark is carried out applying a cradle-to-gate approach and using 1 kg of SCCA as a functional unit. Results show the great performance of CAFIPLA in all the environmental categories analysed. Furthermore, the profitability of the plant is also verified, reaching a payback period below 6 years as long as the product is sold above 0.49 €/kg. Finally, the potential social risk associated to the supply chain is also improved with CAFIPLA technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify and map out circular economy in scientific literature in the global and Africa context. The circular economy has been adopted mostly in industrial production systems in the developed economies, its application in Africa is limited mostly to environment sector. A paucity of scholarly research and scientific publications on CE instigated the need to map out circular economy for sustainable development Africa. This article provides an overview of scientific publications on circular economy built in Africa through the Scopus database. The study used bibliometric analysis based on data obtained from Scopus database highlighting scientific literature. The analysis obtained 414 publications from 2005 to 2024. It provides descriptive and analytical graphs and bibliographic maps generated in R-Studio software. Findings shows main scientific and scholars are in European and Chinese universities with scanty publications in Africa. These findings signal the inadequacy of scientific research to inform policies on circular economy in Africa. It calls for future demand for more research and scientific publication on circular economy linked to sustainability in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is an important sector of the European Union in social, economic and environmental terms. To ensure the sustainability of the sector, improvements are needed in key operations. Weeding is one of the most important activities affecting farm productivity, farmer safety, food safety and security, and the state of the environment. New technical and organizational solutions are needed to achieve the goals of the EU policy for sustainable agriculture. One of the advanced techniques is laser-based weed control. It is important to fully understand the impact of the introduction of these techniques on markets and agricultural practices in the context of sustainability. For this reason, a social life cycle analysis (S-LCA) was carried out. The method applied in the study was based on a participatory approach. The assessment was carried out from three perspectives: the general society, the farmers and the business perspective in relation to agriculture. Expert interviews based on questionnaires and workshops were conducted to gather opinions on the impact of new laser technology on specific aspects of its implementation. The results show generally positive effects from all perspectives, especially from the farmers' perspective. From the farmers' point of view, the most favored factors influencing the widespread introduction of WLAT are the economic consequences, the most important of which are the production costs associated with the introduction of the new technology. According to business experts, the perspective of business development, with particular emphasis on new prospects for businesses and development, is the most important factor. The quality of life and the environment are most valued by society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the application of social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) in the construction sector and explicitly focuses on carbon reinforced concrete (CRC). The publication consists of two parts: (1) a scientific literature review on the current implementation of S-LCA in the construction sector, and (2) the definition of the relevant social hotspots for the cradle-to-gate production of CRC. The literature review was conducted to provide a general overview and compare S-LCA studies in the construction sector; second, countries that provide the relevant input materials needed for CRC were identified. Analysis within the Social Hotspot Database (SHDB) helped determine the relative importance of the CRC supply country for each social category and subcategory. By developing a metric in the form of scores for each risk information, the potential risks indicated by the SHDB were measured. The results show that the focus of the indicators to be highlighted and further used in the indicator catalog is particularly in the area of labor rights and decent work in the health and safety subcategory. Missing data within the SHDB may result in a defined high average score and lead to a lower level of information. In the future, the identified 36 social indicators for CRC should be revised again in cooperation with the manufacturing industry. This study aims to further raise awareness in the construction sector of life-cycle-based sustainability that goes beyond the environmental aspects, and it is the first social hotspot screening using the SHDB for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals demands a partnership between industrial sectors. The power sector pulls the challenging goal of providing affordable and clean energy to society and industry, each with specific issues. This work recognises the need to address the three dimensions of sustainability and identifies a gap in the literature on indicators to assess the social dimension. In this context, the research presents the employment-weighted fair-wage potential, relating the electricity produced to social data, with ten power technology options. The proposed indicator ranks the alternatives, pinpointing the best technology based on social aspects. The analysis employs a social life-cycle approach with primary and secondary data, worldwide real and living wages, and employment factors. The findings indicate the values of the gas- and oil-based technologies as 3.55 and 3.51 at the operation and maintenance stages, respectively. In contrast, photovoltaics offers the lowest potential value (1.32), followed by biomass-biogas (1.86). Run-of-river emerges as the fairest wage potential option (3.33), followed by the reservoir (2.80), while Solar PV technology presents the lowest value (1.16).

Cocoa is a natural resource that plays a very important role globally, being one of the most produced and traded commodities. As a labour-intensive product and considering that its cultivation involves about 50 million people globally, it seems significant to explore its social sustainability. In light of this, this research aimed to map social risks within the cocoa supply chain from a life cycle perspective. Therefore, the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) was used, following the PSILCA database, considering the two most influential countries in its production, i.e., Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The results showed that there could be a very high risk that more than half of the cocoa globally is produced through child labour and with wages too low to guarantee workers a decent living, returning incomes of $30–38/month. Forced labour is much less frequent than child labour, while cocoa from Ghana may induce a high risk of improper work, considering the 30.2 h per week worked by farmers. This is mainly due to the low association power of 10–16%, which reveals a high risk that workers may not organise themselves into trade unions. Finally, at 23–25%, there is also a very high risk of discrimination due to the high presence of migrant labour. Therefore, the S-LCA results showed that the cocoa industry is still characterised by socially unsustainable sourcing.

Tourism has a significant multiplier effect on other socioeconomic sectors, leading to improved infrastructure and public services. Its environmental impact, however, remains a subject of concern and there has been a growing emphasis on increasing the sustainability of tourism attractions. Despite the global importance of sustainability evaluation, there are just a few widely accepted methodologies for evaluating it. The life cycle concept is utilised to assess environmental, economic and social impacts and one critical life cycle tool is social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). Tourism-associated activities are ideally suited for the elaboration of data related to social sustainability due to tourism-specific service specifications. As a result, the main question is how can S-LCA help to ensure the long-term viability of cultural tourism destinations. This paper investigates the theoretical evolution of both S-LCA and cultural tourism in order to answer this question. A new framework S-LCA for sustainable cultural tourist destinations is developed and examined, as are potential application gaps. The hypothesized S-LCA conceptual framework S-LCA can thus play an effective role in accomplishing the principles and objectives of sustainable tourism destination management by bringing all stakeholders’ interests together.

This study aims to identify and map out circular economy in scientific literature in the global and Africa context. The circular economy has been adopted mostly in industrial production systems in the developed economies, its application in Africa is limited mostly to environment sector. A paucity of scholarly research and scientific publications on CE instigated the need to map out circular economy for sustainable development Africa. This article provides an overview of scientific publications on circular economy built in Africa through the Scopus database. The study used bibliometric analysis based on data obtained from Scopus database highlighting scientific literature. The analysis obtained 414 publications from 2005 to 2024. It provides descriptive and analytical graphs and bibliographic maps generated in R-Studio software. Findings shows main scientific and scholars are in European and Chinese universities with scanty publications in Africa. These findings signal the inadequacy of scientific research to inform policies on circular economy in Africa. It calls for future demand for more research and scientific publication on circular economy linked to sustainability in Africa.

To verify the responsible and sustainable functioning of circular economy (CE), assessing the sustainability of CE methods is essential. The consistent absence of a social aspect within the CE has been a recurring topic in research. This paper aims to pinpoint social-benefit aspects that are quantifiable in monetary values and investigate how attributing monetary significance to these elements can enhance the evaluation of social sustainability, leading to more informed decision-making processes. The methodology involves both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A quantitative research study was initiated in February 2023. Two approaches were used for sample selection. First, a case study approach was applied to select a specific SME within the tapioca industry. Survey interviews with workers follow the second step. This study also incorporates qualitative methods like literature review and interviews with key informants (cassava and social experts, government officials, and business owners) in April 2023. This research utilized descriptive analysis as a diagnostic tool, offering valuable insights. Challenges in monetizing social factors are discussed, highlighting the need for standardized frameworks, transparency, and stakeholder engagement. The paper also provides a practical example of monetizing social aspects within a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) tapioca industry to address issues such as gender wage gaps, worker safety, and community engagement. The findings suggest that the costs of monetizing social aspects may outweigh the benefits in certain cases, calling for a reassessment of practices to ensure a more equitable and sustainable approach to social responsibility. Integrating social factors into assessments improves decision-making processes and stakeholder engagement, ultimately leading to more socially responsible decisions.

Purpose. This paper aims to give a system-wide overview of agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA), based on the understanding of agriculture as a complex providing humanity with food, energy and other vital resources and considering all forms of sector’s influence: environmental, social, and economic. This review is intended to outline the temporal and geographical spread of agricultural LCA research, the main aspects studied with LCA in agriculture, and relevant scientific themes via bibliometric analysis and an overview of high-quality scientific publications in this field. Methodology / approach. This study used traditional bibliometric research techniques: performance analysis, scientific mapping, and network analysis. Bibliometric analysis was conducted through the Bibliometrix R package in the RStudio and its extension – Biblioshiny. The bibliographic collection covers 259 academic English-language articles indexed in Scopus for 1999–2022. Results. The study identifies a significant growth in a number of agricultural LCA publications, a tendency of current LCA research to continue and complement earlier research findings, and to accentuate environmental aspects of agricultural activity. Developed countries lead this field of research in terms of productivity and impact. However, LCA studies are geographically concentrated, and collaboration between developed and developing countries is weak. The following issues shape the agri-LCA research structure: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis; LCA of various impacts of agriculture; challenges of agriculture environmental impacts measuring; LCA usage to ensure agriculture sustainability; agri-LCA methodology. Emphasis on GHG emissions in agri-LCA could lead to biased decisions promoting climate-resilient agriculture but neglecting other impacts and dimensions of the sector’s sustainability. Originality / scientific novelty. It was found that the rapid development of the field of research featured a certain stability, continuity, and historical relationship between the issues studied. Research transform from a highly specialised topic into a broader one by the scope of publishing sources but are highly geographically concentrated and not equally distributed even within the European Union. As far as is known, these results have not been previously reported. Practical value / implications. The identified “closedness” of the research community leads to weak scientific progress. Sharing knowledge and involving a broader set of stakeholders to promote LCA application in agriculture globally must be a priority of scholars and policymakers.

For a successful energy and mobility transition, multifaceted technologies, e.g., fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are developed. Next to technical advantages, environmental, economic, and social aspects must be considered. Especially the social implications for various stakeholders are often neglected but are no less important. Thus, goal of this study is to identify possible social risks associated with the production of an FCEV in Germany, using the concept of Social Life Cycle Assessment. Social topics investigated are association and bargaining rights, trade unionism, fair salary, gender wage gap and w eekly hours of work. Results show that the proton exchange membrane fuel cell is a hotspot component, bearing 31–41% of the risk, which is mainly caused by the membrane. Germany is, next to China and India, the major hotspot country, depending on the social topic. Changes in component prices can have an influence on this, as can be seen at the example of the membrane. • Social aspects of fuel cell electric vehicles must be examined beside technology. • Social Life Cycle Assessment is used to identify social hotspots. • The proton exchange membrane fuel cell is a social hotspot due to the membrane. • China, Germany and India are social hotspot countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]