Subcategory assessment method for social life cycle assessment. Part 1: methodological framework

Ramirez, Paola Karina Sanchez; Petti, Luigia; Haberland, Nara Tudela; Ugaya, Cássia Maria Lie

doi:10.1007/s11367-014-0761-y

Cited by 97 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It defines the Basic Requirements (BR) of the product social performance per each sub-category [31].…”

Section: Literature Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SAM is based on the framework from UNEP/SETAC guidelines and employs a four-level scale for each subcategory. This method allows an organization to be analysed according to its behaviour considering 4 levels (A, B, C and D) [31] to which a numeric scale is associated (Table 3), which transforms the qualitative data into quantitative data, providing a method to semi-qualitative characterization. Table 3.…”

Section: Findings: Evaluation Of the Social Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Social Life Cycle Assessment in the Textile Sector: An Italian Case Study

et al. 2017

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This study presents the first application of the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) to a textile product made in Sicily (Italy), according to the Social Life Cycle Assessment guidelines (UNEP). The main goal is to assess and present the social values of a product manufactured in a particular territorial area where the presence of an industry represents the main source of employment. The first part of the study is a literature review of the current state of the art of the S-LCA and its implementation to textile products. In the implementation, particular attention is paid in identifying the positive impacts and in highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the method when applied in this specific sector. The functional unit of the study is an order for a garment (consisting of 495 capes in a soft blend of wool and cashmere), produced by a textile company located in Sicily (Italy). The system boundaries of the study include all phases from cradle-to-gate, i.e. from raw material production through fabric/accessory production to the manufacturing process of the product itself at the company. Background and foreground processes are taken into account using specific and generic data. Two stakeholder groups have been considered (workers and local communities) as those that can better represent the company's value in the territory. The analysis carried out on the functional unit of the study allowed assessing social performance related to the specific textile product, but also to outline the general behaviour of the company. Results offer to scholars a perspective on which to focus their future researches in the sector and highlight that S-LCA is a valuable tool to support business decisions, assessing the social impact of the product to improve the social conditions of stakeholders. However, the access to primary and/or good quality local, national and global data is essential to draw credible conclusions; consequently, every effort to promote the application for S-LCA is highly suggested.

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“…It defines the Basic Requirements (BR) of the product social performance per each sub-category [31].…”

Section: Literature Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Findings: Evaluation Of the Social Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Social Life Cycle Assessment in the Textile Sector: An Italian Case Study

et al. 2017

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“…One of the most immediate ways that SLCA practitioners can likely benefit from turning to the Ramirez et al 2014;Umair et al 2015) and openended interviews (e.g., Hosseinijou et al 2014;Umair et al 2015;Vavra and Bednarikova 2013). Furthermore, many authors recognize the particular challenges of eliciting reliable data about the types of sensitive social impact topics frequently covered during data gathering.…”

Section: Advancing Data Collection For Slcamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A particularly actionable recommendation for SLCA, drawing on the social science literature, is that questionnaires used for data collection (both through surveys and interviews) be standardized and shared. Some SLCA researchers already have published survey instruments and metadata about their sample groups (see e.g., Hosseinijou et al 2014;Ramirez et al 2014), and increased transparency and external review of data collection schemes will likely improve the trustworthiness of results. This is true for instrument-based data collection for both generic and site-specific assessments, though the benefits of standardization and sharing of questionnaires focused on gathering generic data (e.g., across an entire industry) might manifest primarily as an ability to repeat data collection over a period of time, while the benefits for site-specific research might manifest primarily as an ability to compare outcomes in different contexts.…”

Section: Advancing Data Collection For Slcamentioning

confidence: 99%

Rigor in social life cycle assessment: improving the scientific grounding of SLCA

Grubert

2016

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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“…This method is considered as a characterization objective model in analyzing the company performance over the life cycle of a product/system in relation to the basic requirement (BR) fulfillment which is considered as a reference point. In this study, the BR defined by Ramirez et al (2014) is applied. Their definitions are based on the SLCA methodological sheets (UNEP/SETAC 2013), international agreements, existing regulations, and the company management efforts/ policies.…”

Section: Semi-quantitative Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A critical view on social performance assessment at company level: social life cycle analysis of an algae case

Rafiaani

Kuppens

Thomassen

et al. 2019

Int J Life Cycle Assess

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Purpose Social indicators are not easy to be quantitatively analyzed, although at the local scale, the social impacts might be relevant and important. Using the existing approaches for both quantitative and semi-qualitative measurements, this study aims to assess the social impacts of a company working on algae production systems in Belgium through social life cycle analysis (SLCA). By highlighting the opportunities and challenges on the way of applying the existing SLCA approaches at company level, the objective of this study is to contribute to the development of a suitable and clear SLCA approach when a company is considered as the unit of analysis. Methods Based on the list of potential social impact categories suggested by the United Nations Environment Program/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (UNEP/SETAC) guidelines (2009) for SLCA, three stakeholder groups (workers, consumers, and local community) and three subcategories associated with each stakeholder group were identified as the most relevant for carbon capture and utilization technologies. Company and sector level data were collected using existing documents and reports, and the data were analyzed and scored using a combined quantitative and semi-quantitative approach to develop a social assessment model for the case study. Results and discussion The company appears to perform well for all the evaluated social indicators except the one related to the subcategory "equal opportunity/discrimination for workers" for which the share of women employed is lower compared with the sector-level data. The results of our assessment were further discussed regarding the challenges and limitations of performing SLCA at the company level. Based on our experience, the validity of the outcomes is significantly influenced by the data availability, the generality of the indicators introduced within the UNEP/SETAC guidelines, and the subjectivity in data collection for the semi-quantitative assessment among others. Conclusions By highlighting the difficulties and challenges of applying the SLCA at the company level, our study provides a starting point for improving the quantitative assessment and monitoring social implications at the company level within a regional foreground in Europe.

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Subcategory assessment method for social life cycle assessment. Part 1: methodological framework

Cited by 97 publications

References 7 publications

Social Life Cycle Assessment in the Textile Sector: An Italian Case Study

Social Life Cycle Assessment in the Textile Sector: An Italian Case Study

Rigor in social life cycle assessment: improving the scientific grounding of SLCA

A critical view on social performance assessment at company level: social life cycle analysis of an algae case

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