Work

Supply-Chain Social Profiles of Solvent Substitution and Resource Integration in an Avocado Oil Biorefinery

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluates how solvent substitution, heat integration, and water integration change potential supply-chain social exposure in an avocado oil biorefinery. An attributional social life cycle assessment applies the Social Impacts Weighting Method per kilogram of oil. Indicators are assessed separately. Relative to the baseline, isopropanol substitution increases four risk indicators by 23.6–92.1% and the economic-development opportunity indicator by 24.1%. Heat and water integration reduce the risk indicators by 15.3–29.1% and 9.8–22.8%, respectively. Both also reduce opportunity-related activity. These directions persist across the tested multifunctionality approaches with the specified inventories and supplier profiles. Resource-efficiency strategies, therefore, produce different social indicator profiles. Lower opportunity-related activity does not establish a social loss, and no net social ranking follows. The findings support supplier and process screening rather than claims about observed employment, welfare, or statistical superiority.

Source: Clean Technologies

DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol8060182

Authors: Anibal Alviz-Meza, Samir Meramo, Ángel D. González-Delgado

Institutions: Universidad de Cartagena, Universidad Continental

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930