Seminar "Social Life Cycle Assessment: Frameworks, Modelling Approaches, and Alignment with International Standards"

Lecturer:

Tenured Prof. Francesco Romagnoli

Riga Technical University, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment

Date: 5th March 2026

Time: 10:00 – 11:30 

Language: English

Venue: Online (the link will be sent shortly before the seminar). Participation is free.

Summary of the lecture and expected learning objectives

Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is a method that can be used to assess the social and sociological aspects of a product or service along the life cycle. 

This lecture provides a structured and practical introduction to Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), focusing on how S-LCA can be effectively modelled and integrated into sustainability assessment frameworks. The lecture will clarify how S-LCA is conceptualised and described across key international reference frameworks, including the UNEP Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment, ISO 14075, and Product Category Rules (PCRs) for Social Product Declarations. Particular attention will be given to how social sustainability aspects are addressed within the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework.

The lecture will guide participants through the main methodological steps of S-LCA, highlighting system boundaries, stakeholder categories, impact subcategories, data requirements, and common modelling challenges. Differences and complementarities between guideline-based, standardised, and application-driven approaches will be discussed. Brief examples and selected case studies will be presented throughout the lecture to illustrate key methodological concepts and demonstrate how Social Life Cycle Assessment can be applied in practice.

By the end of the lecture, participants will have developed a clear understanding of the role of Social Life Cycle Assessment within life cycle–based sustainability assessment frameworks and its relationship with environmental LCA and Life Cycle Costing.