Title: How to measure social impacts? A socio-eco-efficiency analysis by the SEEBALANCE® method

Authors: Daniela Kolsch, Peter Saling, Andreas Kicherer, Anahi Grosse-Sommer, Isabell Schmidt

Addresses: BASF SE, GUP/CE–Z7, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. ' BASF SE, GUP/CE–Z7, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. ' BASF SE, GU/CM–Z7, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. ' BASF SE, GUP/CE–Z7, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany. ' KPMG Services (Proprietary) Limited, 85 Empire Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa

Abstract: BASF has, in cooperation with Karlsruhe University, Jena University and the Oko-Institut e.V. (Germany), developed a socio-eco-efficiency analysis – the so-called SEEBALANCE®. The objective was the integration of quantified social indicators into the BASF eco-efficiency analysis. Many life cycle analyses do not include an assessment of social impacts and effects. However, in order to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of products or processes, it is necessary to include all three dimensions of sustainability. The objective was to develop a tool, comparable to the BASF eco-efficiency analysis, which is simple to use by LCA-experts and easy-to-understand for people without any prior experience in the field.

Keywords: decision making tools; eco-efficiency portfolio; ecology fingerprint; LCA; life cycle assessment; LCM; life cycle management; SEEcube; SEEBALANCE; social fingerprint; social life cycle assessment; socio-eco-efficiency; sustainable development; social impact; sustainability; social indicators; eco-efficiency analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2008.020380

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2008 Vol.11 No.1, pp.1 - 23

Published online: 20 Sep 2008 *

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