ABSTRACT. Normalization is voluntary, but an important, step in the interpretations of life cycle assessment results. There has been little published work that has focused on normalization for S-LCA. Normalization is commonly utilized by practitioners of environmental life cycle assessment as it facilitates the comprehension of results and supports improved decision-making. S-LCA should also offer normalization options.

The present research developed a normalization method for S-LCA based on generic databases and created eight sets of normalization references (NRs) to be applied in social footprint assessments at two levels: for largescale institutions, and for consumers. Additionally, the NRs created were tested in two different case studies. The normalization procedure revealed the categories and subcategories most at risk for social impact in a given context and optimized the identification of the hotspots that offer the highest leverage for action, providing greater efficiency and objectivity to the management of social impacts in supply chains.

ABSTRACT. Circular economy is an economy designed to regenerate in which the trade may relate to the raw materials, waste, energy, water, services and expertise in order to establish a "closed loop" according to the "green economy" approach as an alternative to classic linear model of production systems. The object of this research is to identify the most appropriate indicators in assessing the social impacts of the circular economy. Starting from the Social LCA framework an extensive literature and case studies review was conduct. From S-LCA approach useful basis social indicators are: Job creation, Job security, Health and wellbeing, Community stability, Education standards, Community services, Crime rates, Equality/Accessibility, Protecting and Enhancing Cultural Heritage, Local Identity and Assets. As such, this research provided a discussion about the concept of the circular economy, an overview of the main circular economy processes, their applications in different sectors and their economic, environmental and social impacts.

ABSTRACT. The growing importance of the concept of the circular economy as a way to attain sustainable development has encouraged scholars to propose different ways to understand it. So far, there has been much focus on the environmental benefits of the circular economy, but, less attention has been paid to how the circular economy can boost and guaranty positive effects on the society, especially in the labor market, both through its potential to create new structure of work ensuring skilled jobs, human rights compliance, and avoiding unemployment. Therefore, this work attempt to develop an approach to measure the beneficial effects on the labor market compared with the circular activities they replace by creating a labor circularity index (WCI). This WCI could also help in the development of evaluation of social Life Cycle Assessment. The province of Quebec, in Canada, was selected as a case study to implement the proposed approach.

ABSTRACT. Most Circular Economy (CE) concepts are virtually silent on the social dimension of sustainability, and the knowledge of the social impacts of products in a CE is lacking. Methods to assess social impacts are vital to avoid problem shifting along a product's life cycle. Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is a tool to provide information about the potential positive and negative social impacts along a product’s life cycle. In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted which combined SLCA and CE literature. A mixed-methods approach was used to map the highly fragmented field of SLCA studies and to search for links between SLCA and CE. As a result, an iceberg model was developed with suggestions for future research topics towards SLCA in a CE context. The momentum of the two fields could be used to further advance SLCA aligned to the assessment of CEs R-strategies.

ABSTRACT. Social Life Cycle assessment is often applied at the product level but there are multiple benefits to start studies at the company level. For instance, this is often how the information about expenditure is available in the private sector rather than by product.

This paper illustrates how to conduct Social Organizational LCA’s starting from generic industry-level data by presenting case studies of typical US based companies and their supply chain. The outcome of these SO-LCA’s can set the stage for a due diligence assessment in the context of corporate social responsibility and/or policy development. We focus on three typical US-based industries (computer electronics, home furniture and wearing apparel). We calculate their respective social footprints, identify their salient risks and social hotspots. We then describe a process to refine these baselines with company specific information about each of their respective supply chain and their associated social risks.

ABSTRACT. Sustainable animal food production is increasingly becoming important yet for pork, the most consumed red meat in Sweden, no SLCA compares contrasting production systems. The methodology presented in this paper was developed to assess Swedish pork production systems, but it can be applied to all livestock production systems. Swedish pork production has two main systems: the conventional producing 98% of the pork and the organic producing about 2% of the pork by weight. Our goal was to assess social impacts for organic and conventional pork production systems from farm to fork for 1000 kg pork slaughter weight. We identified the issues in pork production affecting workers and pigs. We carried out a type 1 Social Life Cycle Assessment. The organic system is potentially more sustainable for pigs.

ABSTRACT. Natural diamonds have been treasured by humans for centuries, but its production is associated with various negative human health impacts. These include occupational accidents in the production system (e.g. due to artisanal mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)), human health impacts due to production system emissions and diamond is furthermore associated with the conflict in the DRC. The aim of this study is to conduct a screening LCA of human health impacts in global natural diamond production. Preliminary results, quantified by applying the disability-adjusted life year indicator, show that production system emissions and occupational accidents in the production system, mainly from artisanal diamond mining in the DRC, constitute the largest contributors to negative human health impacts in natural diamond production globally. Potential positive human health impacts are also discussed. The preliminary results from this study can be applied in future studies of natural diamond and its products.

ABSTRACT. One strategy implemented in cities is urban agriculture, specifically the implementation of farming or greenhouses on roofs of buildings. It is widely spread in many cities to tackle climate change, reduce the demand for imported food, provide fresh produces and take advantage of underutilized spaces in cities. Therefore, in this research, we assessed the social performance of only one growing media, perlite, used in the implementation of rooftop farming and rooftop greenhouses in Spain in the production phase and the social benefits in the use phase in urban agriculture. The preliminary results suggest that the highest risks are in African Countries, but they export only between 3-5% of perlite to Spain. While Turkey and Greece have lower risks but they export most of the perlite worldwide. More precise research is being carried out in the production and use phase of perlite.

ABSTRACT. The assessment of social impacts can be applied in different ways. We developed a new methodology within our SEEbalance, using different types of data sets and using a new impact assessment based on publications of the Roundtable for product social metrics. The Social LCA in our approach is like an environmental LCA and considers system boundaries with the same logic. Life cycle steps are defined to produce a defined product with a defined function. To link the life cycle modules with relevant data, company specific, country specific or mixes of different data sets are prepared to integrate them in a life cycle approach. The results of the assessment are expressed in a specific 4 folded color and number code from “Red” via “Orange” and “Yellow” to “Green” and from 1 to 10. The numeric scale can be compared in different identification steps to generate final conclusions.

ABSTRACT. Portugal is a country specialized in the forest sector. It was on this sector that the concept of sustainability was first introduced in the 18th century. Although the environmental impacts of different forest products have been investigated in different studies, little attention has been given to the respective social impacts. Thus, the objective of this paper is to analyze the environmental and social impacts associated with different forest products produced in Portugal using the E-LCA and S-LCA methodology. The printing and writing paper and cork stoppers are used as illustrative case studies. The E-LCA and S-LCA are conducted using the ReCiPe and the Social Hotspot Index methods, respectively. The results will be analyzed to determine: (1) The most critical impacts associated with the life cycle of these two products; (2) The source of these impacts; and (3) The life cycle, between the two analyzed, expected to bring fewer impacts.

ABSTRACT. The study follows the valorization process of waste wool from a farm north of Stockholm, Norrby Gård, to the production of a wool sweater. In particular, this project assesses the environmental and social performance of a specific product that Röjk has designed; a midweight sweater for a niche market of outdoor enthusiasts who are interested in the sustainability of the product called Norrby Wool Sweater. The aim is to highlight important aspects in both environmental and social life cycle assessments for developing new, unconventional, supply chains.

ABSTRACT. Though many engineering schools are integrating sustainability in the curriculum, most are still struggling, especially with social sustainability. Current Social LCA approaches are currently too time consuming and complex for engineering students to make use of as part of their sustainable product development education. The aim of this paper is to present a process that was designed to help engineering students learn about social sustainability and the implications for product design and manufacturing and help them start working systematically with these issues. Results show that students benefited from the proposed process increasing their general knowledge level of social sustainability issues and how to connect concepts to product design and manufacturing.

ABSTRACT. Product design involves the choice of materials, the processes used to shape them, transport modes, characteristics of the way the product is used and of its disposal at end of life. All of these influence the environmental and social impacts of product’s life and can be negative or positive. We have developed a Social Impact Audit Tool following the UNEP / SETAC guidelines (2009). Its primary aim is one of education, introducing students to this methodology, providing data about social norms and practices in the nations of the world, and allowing case studies for activity-based learning. The tool flags social hotspots highlighting the points in the life of a product at which potential harmful practices or opportunities to enhance well-being exist. In a real world this type of analytics can be used, for instance, for CSR strategies on how to improve local conditions in locations in which a company operates.

ABSTRACT. The road testing phase of the project for the revision of the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) guidelines will be presented and discussed in this study. This pilots phase aims to verify and tested the feasibility and applicability of the revised guidelines such as to train and engage companies in the implementation of the Social LCA. The project started with the kick-off meeting in November 2019 and will run until February 2021. The feedback and lessons learnt of this project phase will be collected in a compendium document part of the final revised guidelines. The first results obtained together with challenges and benefits will be presented in this study.

ABSTRACT. Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is a methodology developed to assess the positive and negative social impacts of products, services and organizations, along their life cycle. The first S-LCA Guidelines were published in 2009 as a project of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative (Benoit and Mazijn, eds. 2009, Benoît et al., 2011).. In the past 10 years, further developments and a myriad of implementations have been carried out, defining in more details the methodology, its indicators and impact assessment methods. This warranted a revision of the Guidelines undertaken under the umbrella of the United Nations Environment Life Cycle Initiative. Providing detailed guidance, the updated S-LCA Guidelines enable new practitioners and more experienced alike, to make informed decisions when planning, conducting or interpreting the results of a S-LCA. This paper will present the development process and the nuts and bolts of the content of the revised Guidelines.