Social Life-Cycle Assessment: A Review by Bibliometric Analysis

Irene Huertas-Valdivia,Fernando E García-Muiña,Davide Settembre-Blundo,Anna Maria Ferrari

doi:10.3390/su12156211

Abstract

This study examined the literature on social life-cycle assessment (S-LCA) published in the last 15 years (2003–2018) using bibliometric methods. Applying scientific mapping and analyzing publication performance, the study describes the structure of and trends in S-LCA publications in terms of related subject categories, authors, journals, countries, and highly cited articles. Challenges and research gaps in the S-LCA literature were also explored. The content of related papers published in the ISI Web of Science databases was examined to identify the main themes investigated, evolution of publication activity, and most representative elements. Analyses were conducted with SciMAT software. This tool enables researchers to map research specialties by extracting qualitative information in the specialized literature and representing it using quantitative measures. The results show rapid and exponential growth of the S-LCA research line in the past ten years, with a clear upward trend in related publications (mostly case studies), especially after publication of the UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products in 2009: 66% of all articles published on S-LCA were published during the period 2015–2018, primarily by European authors. The findings also delineate S-LCA as a highly fragmented research field that has been applied to diverse sectors (agriculture, bioenergy, transport, water management, chemical products, electronics, etc.), mainly in non-European countries. Critical questions concerning methods, framework, paradigms, and indicators remain to be resolved. This study provides insight into the publication performance of S-LCA, characterizing its intellectual structure and salient authors and works. In identifying hotspots in the S-LCA research, the study provides a useful state-of-the-art reference guide for academics and reveals critical research gaps and potential research avenues for future studies to advance in consolidating the discipline.

Highlights

Within the framework of sustainable development, the “social pillar” of sustainability has attracted increasing attention in recent decades
This study examined the literature on social life-cycle assessment (S-LCA) published in the last 15 years (2003–2018) using bibliometric methods
The findings of this study reveal S-LCA to be an emerging topic closely associated with LCA (E-LCA)

Summary

Introduction

Within the framework of sustainable development, the “social pillar” of sustainability has attracted increasing attention in recent decades. Social life-cycle assessment (S-LCA) is “a technique for collecting, analyzing and communicating information about the social conditions and impacts associated with production and consumption” [1] S-LCA focuses on current and potential (positive and negative) socio-economic impacts of processes, products, and services throughout their full life cycle [2] The ultimate goal of conducting S-LCA is to provide decision-making support after evaluating changes in the lives of workers, consumers, society, and other key stakeholders related to the product’s life cycle. Since publication of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry’s (SETAC) UNEP/SETAC Guidelines in 2009 [3], S-LCA of products and services has received growing attention. S-LCA is an important emerging field of study, and several recently published theoretical and methodological works advance understanding of the methodology’s application in different sectors.

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Conclusion