An input–output based framework to evaluate human labour in life cycle assessment

Rugani, Benedetto; Panasiuk, Daryna; Benetto, Enrico

doi:10.1007/s11367-012-0403-1

Cited by 66 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Human labor consumes resources and releases emissions. In line with Rugani et al (2012), an emission factor of 0.46 kg CO 2 h −1 was used to estimate total emissions from human respiration (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/co2-persons-d 691.html).…”

Section: Calculation Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon footprint assessment on a mature vineyard

Marras

Masia

Duce

et al. 2015

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

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Section: Calculation Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon footprint assessment on a mature vineyard

Marras

Masia

Duce

et al. 2015

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

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“…While the use of LCA to calculate the total industrial energy expended in the extraction of fish products is considered highly precise, since it embraces not only the direct expenditures, but also the background processes, LCA studies usually exclude human labor from the assessment (Nebel et al 2006;Rugani et al 2012). However, recent literature has started questioning this perspective, based on the assumption that human activities constitute an integral part of production systems, since part of these systems are sustained by human life (Rugani et al 2012).…”

Section: Cumulative Energy Demand (Ced) Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, recent literature has started questioning this perspective, based on the assumption that human activities constitute an integral part of production systems, since part of these systems are sustained by human life (Rugani et al 2012). However, given the lack of data, human labor activities, unlike in other EROI calculation approaches available in literature, were excluded from the present system.…”

Section: Cumulative Energy Demand (Ced) Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Protein Energy Return on Investment Ratio (ep-EROI) for Spanish Seafood Products

Vázquez‐Rowe

Villanueva-Rey

Moreira

et al. 2013

AMBIO

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Life cycle assessment (LCA) has developed into a useful methodology to assess energy consumption of fishing fleets and their derived seafood products, as well as the associated environmental burdens. In this study, however, the life cycle inventory data is used to provide a dimensionless ratio between energy inputs and the energy provided by the fish: the edible protein energy return on investment (ep-EROI). The main objective was to perform a critical comparison of seafood products landed in Galicia (NW Spain) in terms of ep-EROI. The combination of energy return on investment (EROI) with LCA, the latter having standardized mechanisms regarding data acquisition and system boundary delimitation, allowed a reduction of uncertainties in EROI estimations. Results allow a deeper understanding of the energy efficiency in the Galician fishing sector, showing that small pelagic species present the highest ep-EROI values if captured using specific fishing techniques. Finally, results are expected to provide useful guidelines for policy support in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

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“…We also note that some authors have questioned the appropriateness of human labor (i.e., worker hours) as an activity variable for social life cycle risk assessment (e.g., Iribarren and Vázquez-Rowe 2013;Rugani et al 2012). This variable could potentially be subject to a sensitivity analysis, although we are not certain what other activity variables might be considered more appropriate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Social sustainability in trade and development policy

Pelletier

Ustaoglu

Chevrier³

et al. 2016

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Purpose Social sustainability may be assessed using a variety of methods and indicators, such as the social footprint, social impact assessment, or wellbeing indices. The UNEP guidelines on social life cycle assessment (sLCA) present key elements to consider for product-level, life cycle-based social sustainability assessment. This includes guidance for the goal and scope definition, inventory, impact assessment, and interpretation phases of S-LCA. Methods for and studies of the broader scale, life cycle social dimensions of production and consumption are largely unavailable to date. The current study assesses social risks associated with trade-based consumption in EU Member States using a life cycle-based compared to a non-life cycle-based approach in order to assess the valueadded of life cycle thinking and assessment in this context. Methods Social risk refers to the potential for one or more parties to be exposed to negative social conditions that, in turn, undermine social sustainability. In order to shed light on these risks, a macro-scale analysis of the social risk profile of tradebased consumption in the EU Member States has been conducted by combining intra-and extra-territorial import statistics with country-and sector-specific social risk indicator data derived from the Social Hotspots Database. These data cover 17 social risk indicators in five thematic areas, many of which are linked with the sustainable development goals set by the recent United Nations Agenda 2030. The apparent social risk profiles of EU imports have then been assessed based on consideration of country-of-origin social risk data (non-life cycle-based approach) as compared to a life cycle-based social risk assessment which also took into account the distribution of social risk along product supply chains. The intention was to better understand how and to what extent current tradebased consumption within the EU-27 may be associated with socially unsustainable conditions domestically and abroad, and the extent to which life cycle-based consideration of social risk is necessary. Results and conclusions The analysis confirms the importance of a life cycle-based assessment of social risks in support of policies for socially sustainable production and consumption. Moreover, the methods presented herein offer a potentially powerful decision-support methodology for policy makers wishing to better understand the magnitude and distribution of social risks associated with EU production and consumption patterns, the mitigation of which will contribute to socially sustainable development.

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An input–output based framework to evaluate human labour in life cycle assessment

Cited by 66 publications

References 71 publications

Carbon footprint assessment on a mature vineyard

Carbon footprint assessment on a mature vineyard

Edible Protein Energy Return on Investment Ratio (ep-EROI) for Spanish Seafood Products

Social sustainability in trade and development policy

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