Theory and Practice on Social Life Cycle Assessment

Zamagni, Alessandra; Zanchi, Laura; Cesare, Silvia Di; Silveri, Federica; Petti, Luigia

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-78044-9_7

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…S-LCA can be understood as a social assessment technique that aims to evaluate the social aspects of products and their potential positive and negative impacts (including potential impacts) throughout their life cycle: extraction, processing of raw materials, production, distribution, use, reuse, maintenance, recycling and disposal [4] . S-LCA can be applied alone or in combination with LCA, but it is important to note that, similar to LCA, it provides guidance on possible improvement actions but cannot determine whether a product is absolutely sustainable [5] .…”

Section: So-lca Methods Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (SO-LCA) and Organization 4.0: An easy-to-implement method

et al. 2022

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Section: So-lca Methods Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (SO-LCA) and Organization 4.0: An easy-to-implement method

et al. 2022

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“…LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and S-LCA (Social Life Cycle Assessment) are both methods used to assess the environmental and social impacts of products, processes, or services, but they focus on different aspects and have distinct goals [9,10]:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Life Cycle Analysis of Intensive Greenhouse Farming: A Qualitative View of Tomato Production in Almeria (Spain)

Martín-Moreno,

Hueso-Kortekaas,

Romero

2023

World

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This paper presents an exploratory qualitative Social Life Cycle Analysis (S-LCA) of intensive greenhouse tomato farming in Almeria, Spain, with a specific focus on the social impacts on migrant workers. By setting as a functional unit the production of 10 kg of greenhouse tomato, the study investigates the social dynamics and challenges faced by migrant workers within the industry. The research sheds light on the negative aspects of intensive greenhouse farming for migrants, i.e., labor conditions, health and safety risks, social inequality, and exploitation of migrant labor. Utilizing document analysis, this study contributes to the field of S-LCA by providing a nuanced understanding of the social dimensions surrounding tomato production and migrant workers’ experiences. It emphasizes the need for sustainable practices, improved labor conditions, and ethical considerations to ensure a socially responsible tomato farming industry. The findings have implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers, providing insights for informed decision-making and the promotion of socially sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize the well-being and rights of migrant workers in the context of intensive greenhouse farming in Almeria.

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Towards social life cycle assessment of food delivery: findings from the Italian case study

Ruggeri,

Zaki,

Vinci

2024

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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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.

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Theory and Practice on Social Life Cycle Assessment

Cited by 6 publications

References 22 publications

Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (SO-LCA) and Organization 4.0: An easy-to-implement method

Social Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (SO-LCA) and Organization 4.0: An easy-to-implement method

Social Life Cycle Analysis of Intensive Greenhouse Farming: A Qualitative View of Tomato Production in Almeria (Spain)

Towards social life cycle assessment of food delivery: findings from the Italian case study

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