Harmonizing Social LCA in the Agri-Food Sector: A Literature Review

The growing importance of social sustainability in the agri-food sector has increased attention toward Social Life Cycle Assessment as a tool for evaluating social impacts along the value chain. This review aims to explore the application of Social Life Cycle Assessment in the agri-food domain, with a particular focus on the dairy sector, to identify methodological approaches and recurring challenges. A review of the existing literature was conducted, analyzing case studies through a comparative lens based on key methodological dimensions such as stakeholder involvement, impact assessment methods, and database usage. The findings highlight a prevalent reliance on the Reference Scale impact assessment method, limited stakeholder engagement, and a general absence of materiality assessments. Furthermore, data availability and standardization remain critical issues, with most studies depending on generic databases such as SHDB. The review concludes that although progress has been made, further empirical validation and greater standardization are needed.