Social life cycle assessment of bio-based products from microbiomes: Additives, bioplastics, pigments and hydrogen

In recent decades, interest in bio-based products from microbiomes has grown significantly, driven by increasing concerns over the sustainability of conventional and chemically derived products. Although significant technical progress has been made, limited awareness and comprehension of their social dimensions persist. This study aimed to analyse the social performance of the production of 4 bio-based products for both food and non-food applications (i.e. additives (Exopolysacharides (EPS)), bioplastics (Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)), pigments (phycobiliproteins) and hydrogen) by means of novel bio-based routes based on microbiomes, using the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) methodology. In total, 9 scenarios were considered, combining the sole or the co-production of different bio-products. The stakeholder groups were: workers, consumers, local community, value chain actors and society. Results showed that the sole production of bioplastics and hydrogen had the best social performance (total normalised scores up to 2.5 times higher than the other scenarios). It was mainly due to the high acceptance level for consumers and the better performance in terms of public commitment to sustainability issues for society. In particular, the non-food products (bioplastics and hydrogen) seemed to have higher acceptability from consumers and higher interest in terms of regulation and policy development. On the whole, all the scenarios showed good performance for workers (health and safety), consumers (quality and performance, acceptability) and the local community (number of jobs generated). More efforts should be made to develop specific regulations and policies (especially for additives and pigments) and implementation at full scale should be boosted to cover the technological development gap. • A Social Life Cycle Assessment of bio-based products from microbiomes was conducted. • The production of additives, bioplastics, pigments and hydrogen was compared. • The sole production of bioplastics and hydrogen had the best social performance. • Bioplastics and hydrogen showed higher acceptability and better policy development. • Specific regulation and full-scale implementations should be developed.