Social life cycle assessment in the context of bioeconomy: a comparative study of fertilizer value chains

Abstract Bioeconomy as a model for sustainable development is gaining momentum; however, its environmental aspects are commonly weighted more heavily than its social ones. As a potentially more sustainable alternative, the bioeconomy is increasingly gaining prominence within evaluation models that adopt a life cycle approach, such as Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). In this sense, we present a comparative case study of bio-based and mineral fertilizers carried out in an agri-food region of Spain, where the bioeconomy is perceived as an opportunity. Nowadays, S-LCA is presented as a powerful tool to measure the social impacts throughout product life cycles; nevertheless, the most common tools in this area have several limitations at the data level, thus organization-specific data need to be collected to broaden results. In order to address these limitations, we employ a dual impact assessment methodology, combining a generic analysis with one of the most used databases (Social Hotspot Database -SHDB-) and with a specific analysis through an organizational approach developed from the UNEP Guidelines (2020), employing the Performance Reference Points method. Data were gathered through participant observation and direct collaboration with the organizations involved in the study. The results show that both methods can provide holistic information relevant for organizations’ decision making and confirm that biofertilizer is more socially sustainable when compared to conventional fertilizer, in addition the former boasts greater scope for social improvement. However, inadequate social performance in areas such as gender equality, quality employment, and customer complaints suggests that the biofertilizer is not fostering social sustainability. Finally, achieving social sustainability requires organizations to proactively address social dimensions in their practices.