Research Publications

Concrete production has significant impacts on multiple environmental dimensions, yet the social risks embedded in its supply chains remain less examined. This study applies a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), guided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) methodology, to evaluate the social risks levels associated with producing 1 m³ of concrete in Lima, Peru. Building on a previous environmental LCA for the same functional unit and system boundaries, processes for water, sand, gravel, and cement extraction, production, and end-of-life disposal were mapped to the Social Hotspots Database (SHDB) to enable a harmonized assessment. The UNEP subcategories were then aligned with SHDB social themes. From this alignment, 11 subcategories were prioritized for their relevance to entropic implications, defined here as irreversible changes in nature caused by material and energy transformations in urban systems.

Results are presented across 5 general categories, 30 subcategories, and 11 detailed themes. Local social risks dominate, with Peru contributing 82.6% of MRHEq. Cement production is the most significant contributor to the total risk estimated by the SHDB, although oil-related processes in South Central Africa also play a role. The SHDB categories contributing most to the estimated social risk levels are “Health and Safety” and “Labour Rights and Decent Work,” while ‘Poverty and Inequality” and “State of Environmental Sustainability” lead at the subcategory level. The methodology and results provide a transferable framework for S-LCA of building materials in contexts reliant on local resources. Findings highlight the value of S-LCA and SHDB for identifying social hotspots, while underscoring the need to integrate regional and qualitative data to ensure context-specific, realistic assessments.