How not to compare apples and oranges: Generate context-specific performance reference points for a social life cycle assessment model

Siebert, A.; O’Keeffe, S.; Bezama, Alberto; Zeug, Walther; Thrän, Daniela

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.298

Cited by 32 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The development of life cycle approaches for the evaluation and monitoring of social aspects considering regional sustainability management are still in progress [12]. In this context, the "RESPONSA" (Regional SPecific cONtextualised Social life cycle Assessment) framework was established in 2018, in order to assess social impacts with particular respect to regional perspectives in a wood-based BE [2,10,21]. The goal of this work is to present initial results of the application of the RESPONSA method to the evaluation of a wood-based BE network in central Germany, in order to identify hotspots and opportunities in the evaluated value chain in terms of its potential socio-economic impacts at a regional level.…”

Section: Definition Of Goal and Scopementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geographical system boundary of the production system (adapted from [2]). The hours, as input flows, are the expended working hours of each organization for 1 m 3 laminated veneer lumber (LVL).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) using RESPONSA was performed according to the method developed by Siebert et al [2,10,21]. RESPONSA, as a context-specific social life cycle framework, estimates the social impacts of wood-based production chains in a regional BE-originally designed for central Germany-by identifying social hotspots and opportunities.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thereby, its focus is on the organizational level and foreground activities of the production chain. The assessment was based on a characterization approach by performance reference points (PRPs) [2,10,21].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…At present, the bioeconomy (BE) is seen as one of the major pathways for achieving sustainable development, as it relies on the optimized use of renewable bio-based resources for the provisioning of food, materials, and energy to meet societal demands. However, the implementation of such a global transformation process faces not only challenges related to economic efficiency and technical and scientific innovation to cope with economic and environmental factors, but also the challenge of socio-economic transformation, in which societal aspects are at least as important as those previously mentioned [1][2][3]. In addition, with the three dimensions of sustainability-environmental, economic, and social-in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global normative goal framework for sustainable development has been addressed for the first time [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Regional Socio-Economic Life Cycle Assessment of a Bioeconomy Value Chain

et al. 2020

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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.

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Section: Definition Of Goal and Scopementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Regional Socio-Economic Life Cycle Assessment of a Bioeconomy Value Chain

et al. 2020

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Social considerations for the cultivation of industrial crops on marginal agricultural land as feedstock for bioeconomy

Panoutsou

Cossel

Ciria³

et al. 2022

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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Marginal agricultural land (MAL) has received much attention in research and policy formation as a potential resource for cultivating biomass for energy and biobased products. However, it is still unclear whether biomass from MAL meets the requirements of social sustainability. This study develops a conceptual linkage between value‐chain analysis and social life‐cycle analysis (S‐LCA), and assesses both positive impacts (handprints) and negative impacts (footprints). A participatory approach including interviews and surveys was used to understand views and perceptions of the relevant stakeholders. A systemic strategy was applied to analyze value‐chain activities, understand challenges, and identify competitive advantages and disadvantages. For S‐LCA, the variety of impacts and indicators was met through a literature review and a consistent scoring system. The cultivation of perennial crops on MAL tends to cause skepticism among stakeholders, who are concerned about long‐term commitment and biodiversity risks. Annual crops, on the other hand, are perceived by all stakeholder categories as very promising opportunities across all impact categories and indicators. They can facilitate income diversification and offer smart sustainable cropping options through crop rotation, agroforestry, etc. Most of the technological pathways examined are highly innovative, have a low technological readiness level, and are still at the early market development stage. As such they are ranked by stakeholders as medium opportunities for short‐term implementation. In contrast, pyrolysis to industrial heat, ethanol from switchgrass, insulation material from hemp, and biogas/biomethane from sorghum are considered opportunities with good chances of being implemented in the short term. © 2022 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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