Social Life Cycle Assessment Research Papers

The ship recycling industry in Bangladesh provides critical metal resources for construction and consumer products in the country, which has no native metal sources. This industry illustrates how industrial recycling can arise in a self-organized manner and be maintained through social embeddedness. Information provided through interviews with shipyard owners, traders, and blacksmiths illustrate the importance of historical, cognitive, structural, and cultural embeddedness to maintaining the flow of metals from the ships beached in the coastal city of Chittagong to the capitol city of Dhaka, more than 300 km away. The industry began through small scale metal scavenging; the early scavengers developed the major metal trading businesses operating today, maintained by family relationships. The metalwork-ing community maintains a balance between the strong family ties and weak social ties, ensuring an optimum flow of information among the businessmen in the community. The engagement with scrap handling produces a sense of pride and a pleasure of innovation that binds this community with waste recycling. Thus, the embeddedness of this community through self-recruitment and trade information via social ties directs the resource flows in the community.

- by and +1
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- Industrial Ecology, Ecological Economics, LCA and solid waste mangement, Environmental Sustainability

Over specific times, the manner human beings speak took numerous paperwork, which includes meeting, traveling, mailing, posting, and calling. Currently, maximum of those communications are changed with digital on line platform which include Facebook, what's app etc. In spite of the truth that of the internet is open for every body and people appears abuse it. It is widely regular that higher procedures of conversation are on hand for us because the internet becomes made. A few Individuals help the concept folk's affiliation thru social media, no matter the truth that others take into account this as something wrong. This studies paper will speak approximately each of those perspectives and could supply my non-public opinion. This studies paper will too delineate the additives which have pushed to the upward push of social media as a success communications medium. You can also additionally in addition to pick up information of ways social media has modified the circulation of conversation. I.

Today built heritage conservation should consider constantly changing needs of users. In particular, recent problems related to the economic crisis and to environmental pollution make issues related to consumption reduction and environmental impact particularly important.
Even if historical buildings have many sustainable features in terms of embodied energy and land consumption, they don’t perfectly meet current standards and impose many restraints from a constructive and typological/functional point of view.
In recent years a new approach to preservation has been derived from the theory of “care of monuments” by Ruskin: a preventive and constant maintenance, interpreted as less destructive and cheaper intervention and management of the continual becoming. Besides a lifecycle approach leads to reconsider management and to rethink the intervention putting in place a balance between positive and negative contributions in the long term.
The LCA mantra “from cradle to grave” is usually applied to new products taking into account all components, from the extraction/production of raw materials to the disposal of constructive elements. Since the main goal of historical buildings' conservation is to shift to infinity their dismissal time, this study aims to lay the foundations for an innovative approach for sustainability assessment of existing buildings that should consider the resources savings and doesn’t set a time limit for the building’s life.
The paper focuses on “minor” built heritage, the most exposed to abandonment and decay.

- by Emanuele Zamperini and +1
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- Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Historic Preservation, Sustainable Development

Background, aims, and scope Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is a tool assessing the social aspects of products and services. This article is a step forward from the Guidelines and wishes to clarify the different impact assessment (IA) methods covered in the Guidelines and how these different methods would provide different types of information regarding the social aspects of the product system. Methods The outcomes resulting from different sLCIA methods are discussed through the analysis of three methods covered by the Guidelines for SLCA (UNEP 2009): the Taskforce’s method, Hunkeler’s (2006) and Weidema’s (2006). In order to highlight the different outcomes, we analyze the “nature” of the indicator results, the sources of the stressors, and the way the IA results are linked to the product system. Results Different results are provided depending on the sLCIA approach used. We stress that the use of impact pathways allows the assessment of social impacts. The Taskforce’s method, which compares the state of the dimensions of the social context of the product system with international consensus, assesses “social performances.” Regarding the sources of the stressors, the analysis needs to look at other levels than the unit process to capture the social issues. Finally, two approaches are used to connect the indicator results to the product system: one carrying the quantitative link between the inventory indicator and the functional unit all the way to the IA result through impact pathways, and the other, weighting the IA results according to the relative importance of an activity variable. Discussion The different features of the sLCIA methods result in different outcomes. Depending on the sources of the stressors, different levels are assessed. When the stressors are collected at an organizational level, e.g., country, sector, or enterprise, the unit assessed becomes the social context, which can be called “context units” parallel to the unit processes. SLCIA methods will also provide different outcomes depending on the characterization models used in the analysis: social impacts versus social performances. Finally, the difference between the outcomes according to the approaches used to link the IA results to the product system will require further reflections. Conclusions Two types of sLCIA are covered by the Guidelines. One uses Performance Reference Points allowing the evaluation of the relative position of the state of a dimension of a context unit in reference to an international consensus. The second one, closer to LCA, assesses the social impacts derived from the technical nature of the processes, through the use of impact pathways. Recommendations and perspectives Choosing between the feasibility of deriving social impacts from social variables through impact pathways or assessing a broader set of social issues through the use of semiquantitative indicators is an ongoing issue and requires further research. Currently, the choice of sLCIA methods is informed by the availability of the characterization models and the indicators.

- by Carmela Cucuzzella and +1
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- Social Research Methods and Methodology, Life Cycle Assessment, Social Life Cycle Assessment

A Avaliação Social do Ciclo de Vida (ACV-S) é uma técnica que visa avaliar os impactos sociais positivos e
negativos desde a extração até o descarte final de produtos. No livro Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment,
os autores levantam a necessidade da realização de estudos de caso. Desta forma, o objetivo do projeto
SocRates (Social Rates) é o de realizar um projeto piloto de ICV-S do Sabonete em Barra Ekos Cacau (Maracatu)
da Natura. Para isso, avaliou-se o atendimento aos indicadores sociais referentes à unidade funcional
“limpeza de uma pessoa durante um ano”, correspondendo a um fluxo de referência de aproximadamente
10 sabonetes de 150g. Do sistema do produto foram excluídos processos que representavam menos de 1%
das horas trabalhadas (UGAYA et al., 2011). Em seguida, por meio de visitas às partes interessadas (trabalhadores,
comunidade local e outros atores da cadeia de valor) e aplicações de questionários, dados específicos
foram coletados. A aplicação dos questionários desenvolvidos permitiu a avaliação do desempenho e a sele-
ção das questões criadas. Percebeu-se ainda que as questões devem ser elaboradas caso a caso, em função do
tipo de contratação e do nível de instrução dos entrevistados, para facilitar a obtenção dos dados e aumentar
sua qualidade. Os próximos passos poderiam incluir a consideração da opinião de especialistas das ciências
sociais, que poderiam ter outra visão acerca da análise dos dados obtidos.

- by Ma Lange and +1
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- Life Cycle Assessment, Social Life Cycle Assessment

As part of its initiatives to improve the environmental performance of dairy production in Canada, the Dairy
Farmers of Canada commissioned in 2010 a full environmental and socio-economic life cycle assessment
(LCA) for the production of milk across Canada. This paper summarises the methodology, results and
conclusions. In line with existing publications, the environmental LCA found that the main sources of
greenhouse gases were emitted at the farm, with enteric fermentation, manure management and feed
production. Potential impacts on ecosystem quality were mostly caused by feed production land use with
some potential ecotoxicity. Potential burdens on human health were dominated by ammonia emissions. The
water footprint was strongly linked to geography and the use of irrigation. To understand the impact of the
choices in practices, the analysis compared regionalised provincial average results. Scenarios based on
practices were modelled to understand the scale of impact reduction possible.

- by Julie Parent and +1
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- Life Cycle Assessment, Social Life Cycle Assessment

The ship recycling industry in Bangladesh provides necessary scrap metal for domestic steel products, such as rebar for construction. These recycled products may represent a dramatic reduction in energy consumption and ecological footprint when compared to production from virgin iron ore. A life cycle assessment approach is used to evaluate energy use and emissions, from when the ships is transported from the originating country for dismantling of retired ships in Chittagong, to the end recyclers (rerolling mills and light engineering shops) in Dhaka. The secondary rebar produced from the scraps saves 16.5 GJ of primary energy per ton of rebar and 1965 kg of CO 2eq greenhouse gas emissions per ton of rebar when compared to primary rebar. This study compared different unit operations of steel scrap processing to assess their relative environmental impacts, including Global Warming Potential (GWP), resource use in terms of MJ primary energy, human health, and ecosystem quality. This study finds that the rerolling activities that happen outside of the yards are responsible for the most damage. Adverse impacts in in-yard processing and beached ship cutting are generated by the use of liquid oxygen and the use of gas torches. Changes in cutting methods or use of protective gear during cutting will largely reduce the local environmental and health impacts.

- by Mizanur Rahman and +1
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- Social Network Analysis (SNA), Social Life Cycle Assessment, Innovation & sustainability Automotive Industry

Purpose This paper explores the issue of fairness in global supply chains. Taking the Western European clothing supply chain as a case study we demonstrate how applying a normative indicator in Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) can contribute academic and practical insights into debates on fairness. To do so we develop a new indicator that addresses some of the limitations of the living wage for SLCA. Methods We extend the standard form of living wage available for developing countries to include income tax and social security contributions. We call this extension 'living labour compensation'. Using publically available data, we estimate net living wages, gross living wages, and living labour compensation rates for BRIC in 2005. We then integrate living labour compensation rates into an input-output framework, which we use to compare living labour compensation and actual labour compensation in the BRIC countries in the Western European clothing supply chain in 2005. Results and Discussion We find that in 2005, actual labour compensation in the Western European clothing supply chain was around half of the living labour compensation level, with the greatest difference being in the Agricultural sector. Therefore, we argue that BRIC pay in the Western European clothing supply chain was unfair. Furthermore, our living labour compensation estimates for BRIC in 2005 are ~35% higher than standard living wage estimates. Indeed, adding income taxes and employee social security contributions alone increases the living wage by ~10%. Consequently, we argue there is a risk that investigations

- by Simon Mair
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- Globalization, Supply Chain, Clothing, Fairness

The adoption of renewable energy technologies in developing nations is recognized to have positive environmental impacts; however, what are their effects on the electricity supply chain workers? This article provides a quantitative analysis on this question through a relatively new framework called social life cycle assessment, taking Malaysia as a case example. Impact assessments by the authors show that electricity from renewables has greater adverse impacts on supply chain workers than the conventional electricity mix: Electricity production with biomass requires 127% longer labor hours per unit-electricity under the risk of human rights violations, while the solar photovoltaic requires 95% longer labor hours per unit-electricity. However, our assessment also indicates that renewables have less impacts per dollar-spent. In fact, the impact of solar photovoltaic would be 60% less than the conventional mix when it attains grid parity. The answer of "are renewables as friendly to humans as to the environment?" is "not-yet, but eventually."

- by Alexander R Keeley and +3
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- Renewable Energy, Malaysia, Life Cycle Assessment, Social Life Cycle Assessment

This study is intended to conduct an extended evaluation of sustainability based on the material flow analysis of resource productivity. We first present updated information on the material flow analysis (MFA) database in Taiwan. Essential indicators are selected to quantify resource productivity associated with the economy-wide MFA of Taiwan. The study also applies the IPAT (impact-population-affluence-technology) master equation to measure trends of material use efficiency in Taiwan and to compare them with those of other Asia-Pacific countries. An extended evaluation of efficiency, in comparison with selected economies by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA), is conducted accordingly. The Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) is thereby adopted to quantify the patterns and the associated changes of efficiency. Observations and summaries can be described as follows. Based on the MFA of the Taiwanese economy, the average growth rates of domestic material input (DMI; 2.83%) and domestic material consumption (DMC; 2.13%) in the past two decades were both less than that of gross domestic product (GDP; 4.95%). The decoupling of environmental pressures from economic growth can be observed. In terms of the decomposition analysis of the IPAT equation and in comparison with 38 other economies, the material use efficiency of Taiwan did not perform as well as its economic growth. The DEA comparisons of resource productivity show that Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Japan performed the best in 2008. Since the MPI consists of technological change (frontier-shift or innovation) and efficiency change (catch-up), the change in efficiency (catch-up) of Taiwan has not been accomplished as expected in spite of the increase in its technological efficiency.

This paper evaluates the method Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) from the perspectives of Indigenous methodologies and Indigenous standpoint, in order to identify some strengths and limitations of using S-LCA in Indigenous contexts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to measure environmental impacts connected with all stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, process, or service. S-LCA is a methodology designed to include the social aspects of sustainability in the LCA methodology. S-LCA emphasizes stakeholder involvement and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) S-LCA guidelines (2020) lists Indigenous communities as possible stakeholders. With a focus on Indigenous communities in the Arctic region we also include comparative aspects from Australia to generate new conceptualizations and understandings. The paper concludes that S-LCA has the potential to facilitate opposing worldviews and with some further developments can be a valuable methodology for Indigenous contexts.

- by Kristina MacNeil and +1
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- Indigenous Research Methodologies, Australian Indigenous Studies, Sámi Studies, Social Life Cycle Assessment

A bioeconomy tackles sustainable development at both the global and regional levels, as it relies on the optimized use of renewable bio-based resources for the provisioning of food, materials, and energy to meet societal demands. The effects of the bioeconomy can be best observed at a regional level, as it supports regional development and affects the social dimension of sustainability. In order to assess the social impacts of wood-based production chains with regional differentiation, the social life cycle assessment framework "RESPONSA" was established in 2018. We present an initial study, in which this method is applied to an exemplary production chain in a case study of laminated veneer lumber produced in central Germany. The results show a relatively better social performance compared to the reference economic sector, reflecting a relatively low rate of female employees as a major social hotspot. Several social opportunities are identified, in terms of health and safety, equal opportunities, and adequate remuneration, for the organization taking part in the value chain. Finally, considering the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global normative framework, a number of additional indicators for RESPONSA, as well as further developments and recommendations regarding its application in other regions and the upcoming social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) guidelines, are identified.

- by Dr.-Ing. Walther Zeug
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- Bioeconomics, Bioeconomy, Social LCA, Social Life Cycle Assessment
- by Eda Ustaoglu
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- Trade Policy, Social Life Cycle Assessment, EU countries, life cycle indicators

- by Alexander R Keeley
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- Business, Renewable Energy, Malaysia, Life Cycle Assessment

Sustainability decision making is a complex task for policy makers, considering the possible unseen consequences it may entail. With a broader scope covering environmental, economic, and social aspects, Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is a promising holistic method to deal with that complexity. However, to date, this method is limited to the hotspot analysis of a product, service, or system, and hence only assesses direct impacts and overlooks the indirect ones (or consequences). This critical literature review aims to explore the challenges and the research gaps related to the integration of three methods in LCSA representing three pillars of sustainability: (Environmental) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). The challenges and the research gaps that appear when pairing two of these tools with each other are identified and discussed, i.e., the temporal issues, different perspectives, the indirect consequences,...

This paper evaluates the method Social Life Cycle Assessment (S‐LCA) from the perspectives of Indigenous methodologies and Indigenous standpoint, in order to identify some strengths and limitations of using S‐LCA in Indigenous contexts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to measure environmental impacts connected with all stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, process, or service. S‐LCA is a methodology designed to include the social aspects of sustainability in the LCA methodology. S‐LCA emphasizes stakeholder involvement and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) S‐LCA guidelines (2020) lists Indigenous communities as possible stakeholders. With a focus on Indigenous communities in the Arctic region we also include comparative aspects from Australia to generate new conceptualizations and understandings. The paper concludes that S‐LCA has the potential to facilitate opposing worldviews and with some further developments can be a valuable methodology for Indigen...

Sustainable design of structures includes environmental and economic aspects; social aspects throughout the life cycle of the structure, however, are not always adequately assessed. This study evaluates the social contribution of a concrete bridge deck. The social performance of the different design alternatives is estimated taking into account the impacts derived from both the construction and the maintenance phases of the infrastructure under conditions of uncertainty. Uncertain inputs related to social context are treated through Beta-PERT distributions. Maintenance needs for the different materials are estimated by means of a reliability based durability evaluation. Results show that social impacts resulting from the service life of bridges are not to be neglected in sustainability assessments of such structures. Designs that minimize maintenance operations throughout the service life, such as using stainless steel rebars or silica fume containing concretes, are socially preferable to conventional designs. The results can complement economic and environmental sustainability assessments of bridge structures.

- by Ignacio J. Navarro and +1
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- Sustainable Design, Social Life Cycle Assessment, Concrete Bridges, Preventive measures
- by Orlanda Grech
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- Methodology, Biorefinery, Production economics, Social Life Cycle Assessment

Purpose – In this paper, of exploratory character, the purpose of this paper is to propose the analysis of the life cycle for assessing the environmental, economic, and social impact in the activity of recovery, restoration, and valorization of Cultural Heritage. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis protocol is applied to the case of recovery and restoration processes and then outlining the salient features of what may become a model of Cultural Heritage Life Cycle Management (CH-LCM). Findings – The authors propose the approach of the life cycle, normally used to assess the impact of materials, processes or products, to the management of cultural heritage as an innovative methodology with great potential. Originality/value – The methodology for this sector is highly innovative, especially in its interdisciplinary approach, through the use of different technical, historical, and economic skills which can provide the tools for the preparation of a management plan according to t...

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