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Social Aspects in the Assessment of Biobased Value Chains

Author

Listed:
  • Nirvana Angela Marting Vidaurre

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Ricardo Vargas-Carpintero

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Moritz Wagner

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Jan Lask

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Iris Lewandowski

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

Social Life-Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is under continuous development. The Methodological Sheets for Subcategories in S-LCA are a set of guidelines commonly used for the performance of such assessments. They cover a variety of stakeholders and subcategories for the social assessment of products in general. However, they may not necessarily be appropriate for the assessment of biobased value chains of agricultural and forestry origin. The aim of this study is the identification of social aspects relevant for the assessment of biobased value chains across various regions of the world, including those aspects possibly overlooked in the Methodological Sheets for Subcategories in S-LCA. For this purpose, a literature review of empirical studies was performed using the sheets as a reference. The results show that the Methodological Sheets for Subcategories in S-LCA provide good coverage of social topics relevant for biobased value chains, but that the stakeholders “smallholder” and “family farm” are not adequately addressed. Drawing on the empirical literature reviewed, the study emphasizes the relevance of these stakeholders in the analysis of biobased value chains of agricultural and forestry origin, and proposes criteria for consideration in the assessment of this stakeholder.

Suggested Citation

  • Nirvana Angela Marting Vidaurre & Ricardo Vargas-Carpintero & Moritz Wagner & Jan Lask & Iris Lewandowski, 2020. "Social Aspects in the Assessment of Biobased Value Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9843-:d:450737
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    2. Sören Richter & Nora Szarka & Alberto Bezama & Daniela Thrän, 2022. "What Drives a Future German Bioeconomy? A Narrative and STEEPLE Analysis for Explorative Characterisation of Scenario Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-32, March.
    3. Nirvana A. Marting Vidaurre & Iris Lewandowski & Jan Lask, 2022. "Identifying methodological challenges in the social risk assessment of cellulosic ethanol value chains," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1233-1246, August.
    4. Rebolledo-Leiva, Ricardo & Moreira, María Teresa & González-García, Sara, 2023. "Progress of social assessment in the framework of bioeconomy under a life cycle perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    5. Alberto Bezama & Jakob Hildebrandt & Daniela Thrän, 2022. "Analyzing the Potential Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Regional Energy Integration Scenarios of a Bio-Based Industrial Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Beatriz Herrera Sabillón & Maria Gerster‐Bentaya & Andrea Knierim, 2022. "Measuring farmers' well‐being: Influence of farm‐level factors on satisfaction with work and quality of life," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(2), pages 452-471, June.

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