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Abstract:The need for integrated methodological framework for sustainability assessment has been widely discussed and is urgent due to increasingly complex environmental system problems. These problems have impacts on ecosystems and human well-being which represent a threat to economic performance of countries and corporations. Integrated assessment crosses issues; spans spatial and temporal scales; looks forward and backward; and incorporates multi-stakeholder inputs. This study aims to develop an integrated methodology by capitalizing the complementary strengths of different methods used by industrial ecologists and biophysical economists. The computational methodology proposed here is systems perspective, integrative, and holistic approach for sustainability assessment which attempts to link basic science and technology to policy formulation. The framework adopts life cycle thinking methods-LCA, LCC, and SLCA; stakeholders analysis supported by multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA); and dynamic system modelling. Following Pareto principle, the critical sustainability criteria, indicators and metrics (i.e., hotspots) can be identified and further modelled using system dynamics or agent based modelling and improved by data envelopment analysis (DEA) and sustainability network theory (SNT). The framework is being applied to development of biofuel supply chain networks. The framework can provide new ways of integrating knowledge across the divides between social and natural sciences as well as between critical and problem-solving research. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2011, 3 470

This work reviews and performs a meta-analysis of the recent life cycle assessment and flow analyses studies palm oil biodiesel. The best available data and information are extracted, summarized, and discussed. Most studies found palm oil biodiesel would produce positive energy balance with an energy ratio between 2.27 and 4.81, and with a net energy production of 112 GJ ha. With the exception of a few studies, most conclude that palm oil biodiesel is a net emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG). The origin of oil palm plantation (planted area) is the foremost determinant of GHG emissions and C payback time (CPBT). Converting peatland forest results in GHG emissions up to 60 tons CO 2 equivalent (eq) ha À1 y À1 leading to 420 years of CPBT. In contrast, converting degraded land or grassland for plantation can positively offset the system to become a net sequester of 5 tons CO 2 eq ha À1 y À1

This study is aimed at identifying and characterizing the eco-tourism destinations in Lake Toba Area as well as mapping and analyzing the stakeholders involved in its value chain and governance. The study was conducted between January and April 2018 whereby a snowball sampling method was employed in identifying the eco-tourism destinations. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to record the characteristics of each destination point in terms of access, attraction, and amenities. Seventeen eco-tourism destinations located in seven regencies along Lake Toba Area have been identified. While access to these tourist destinations has been good enough, the destinations are lacking of attractions. The attractions are limited to natural panoramic views, such a pine forest and spectacular lake view without adequate activity options that can be done by tourist. In terms of supporting amenities, there are still many rooms that require attention and improvement. After that, the study continued by analyzing the role of stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in the operation, governance, and policy of eco-tourism destinations in the lake Toba region. The stakeholders are mapped and clustered based upon their power and interest into four categories: (i) key players, (ii) subjects, (iii) trend setter, and (iv) the crowd. It appears that owner/ administrator, regional tourism office, and several interrelated government offices, such as the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Forestry and Environment are key players which possess high power and interest. On the other hand, private sector, mass media, and local communities are identified as dormant stakeholders or potential trend setters to some extent who possess high power but have low interest. The results of this study are essential inputs for further investigating the socio-economic impacts of the tourism-based development in the Lake Toba through Social Life Cycle Assessment methodology.

Assessing the sustainability of products (e.g., chemicals) and their process technologies is a challenging task, and hence key indicators and tools have to be developed continually to manage the impacts of social and economic threats while operating within ecological limits. The conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) method is one of such systems‐based tools, and standardized for environmental impact evaluation of product systems. However, LCA is pertinent to assessing mainly the “environmental dimension” of systems' sustainability; it was not historically developed to evaluate the other sustainability dimensions: economic and social. Hence, recent challenges in LCA have led to its broadening to encompass these other dimensions, which has resulted in what we call now the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA). LCSA needs to be a systemwide, integrated, and interdisciplinary analysis over space and time whereby an integrated modeling tool is needed to simulate and analyze the inter‐relationships among/between social, ecological, and economic systems. This article explains the basics of LCSA, LCA, life cycle costing, and social life cycle assessment and includes an initial LCSA application to palm oil‐based products. We introduced a framework here to provide a systematic basis for LCSA operationalization and identified a set of key economic, environmental, and social indicators at each stage of the palm oil biodiesel life cycle. The LCSA application thus helps to understand the complexity of a palm oil biodiesel life cycle through an integrated sustainability assessment and modeling.