Social life cycle assessment for industrial biotechnology

Abstract

This chapter focuses on social assessment methods (known as SLCA) applied to industrial biotechnology (IB), which are part of the “life cycle” approach. IB is a heading for a set of different technologies. The first section presents a review of the literature to provide an analysis of the results and limitations of IB SLCA studies, with the main focus on the biofuel industries. Often conducted via a social performance analysis based on CSR (corporate social responsibility) criteria, most studies provide little new information. Nevertheless, there are some studies on the change caused by the emergence of an IB. These studies use national accounts input-output tables, which allow us to predict impacts. The second section suggests rules to follow in order to achieve a “good” SLCA in the field of IB, in other words, to be able to anticipate the main known impacts or at least to carry out the assessment in a rigorous and transparent fashion. The conclusion focuses on the prospects and challenges of IB SLCA, in a world which is experiencing immense upheaval.