Social Circular Economy Indicators Applied to Wastage Biorefineries

Abstract

A waste biorefinery is a facility aimed to use a wide variety of biogenic waste to produce value-added products and energy. Moreover, they arise as a cornerstone in the global sphere, fostering fossil-based resources substitution. In this perspective, biorefineries have the capacity of achieving a circular economy within a sustainability context, by creating economical, environmental, and social benefits. Quantitative estimations have been assessed on the economic or environmental aspects of the circular economy (CE). However, the total assessment of sustainability in a biorefinery system involves, in addition to environmental and economic, the social impacts assessment to ascertain the potential implications derived from the process implementation to the society. In this work, we take closer regard at the pledges and expectations of the waste biorefineries within CE from the point of view of the social indicators. The social indicators are proposed to evaluate potential positive and negatives effects of the implementation and operation of waste biorefineries. The research includes an overview of Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) methodology and a screening to link waste biorefinery social indicators to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result, we summarize key preliminary indexes to measure the waste biorefinery performance. The screening will allow decision makers to identify indicators and hotspots along the waste biorefinery and determine how these SDG hotpots can be improved.