Work

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

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: 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.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17177957

Authors: Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion, Veronica Ungaro, Laura Di Pietro, Atifa Amin, Chiara Moretti

Institution: Roma Tre University

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896