Abstract
Assessment of the sustainability of CO2 utilisation technologies should encompass economic, environmental and social aspects. Though guidelines for economic and environmental assessment of CO2 utilisation (CDU) have been presented, a methodology for social assessment of CDU has not. Herewith, social impact assessment for CDU is systematically investigated, a methodological framework derived and examples of application given. Both process and deployment scenarios are found to be key factors in the assessment and the sourcing of raw material is observed to be a hotspot for social impacts within the assessed CDU technologies. This framework contributes a new aspect to the development of holistic sustainability assessment methodologies for CDU by enabling a triple helix to be created between life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic assessment (TEA) and social impact assessment (SIA). Therefore, the triple helix approach will enable trade-offs between environmental, economic and social impacts to be explored, ultimately enhancing effective decision making for CDU development and deployment.
Highlights
Sustainability is key to the future of green chemistry and holistic methodologies to assess this are a necessity.[1]
Social impact assessment for carbon dioxide utilisation (CDU) is systematically investigated, a methodological framework derived and examples of application given. Both process and deployment scenarios are found to be key factors in the assessment and the sourcing of raw material is observed to be a hotspot for social impacts within the assessed CDU technologies. This framework contributes a new aspect to the development of holistic sustainability assessment methodologies for CDU by enabling a triple helix to be created between life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic assessment (TEA) and social impact assessment (SIA)
The UN Environmental Program (UNEP) with the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) published guidelines for stakeholders for the assessment of social impacts of products in 2009.23 The guidelines aim to be used as a skeleton approach to enable practitioners to identify key elements which should be considered in a study
Summary
Sustainability is key to the future of green chemistry and holistic methodologies to assess this are a necessity.[1]. Life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) or techno-economic assessment (TEA) and social impact assessment (SIA) or social life cycle assessment (SLCA or S-LCA) are common methodologies used to assess the three dimensions. These concepts can be further considered as a triple helix structure with cross-linkages between parameters. By expanding our thinking to consider the whole life cycle of a product (life cycle thinking) within the facets of environment, social and economic impacts we can seek to reduce resource use, emissions, social and environmental impacts.[2] Of
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