The Social Life Cycle Assessment (s-LCA) focuses on the social and sociological aspects of products and services. At Normec OWS, we can create an s-LCA for you, which can be used to gain insight into the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) aspects of an organization. This is primarily intended for in-house communication purposes.
As the social pillar of the sustainability assessment, s-LCA complements the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). Together, these provide all-round insight into the sustainability aspects of a product, service, or activity. The s-LCA method assesses the effects on social impact sub-categories, such as ‘Fair Salary’, ‘Discrimination’, ‘Health and Safety’, or ‘Local Employment’. Sub-categories can be grouped to represent the impact per type of stakeholder, such as the Workers, Consumers, or the Local Community.
An s-LCA is performed according to the same basic framework as an LCA (ISO 14040/14044), but no further specific international standardization is present. Nevertheless, our s-LCAs are performed according to UNEP-guidelines. The s-LCA methodology typically considers aspects such as the extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, reuse, maintenance, recycling, and final disposal. We usually use existing social impact databases for the impact calculation, although specific on-site data is also a possibility.
Yes, we are recognized by DIN CERTCO in line with ISO 17025. This accreditation covers all test procedures and standards with regard to compostability and biodegradation. Additionally, we are ISO 17025 accredited by BELAC for our compost analyses and also recognized by TÜV Austria. Normec OWS is also ISO 17020 accredited for inspection services and ISO 14001 approved for environmental management. View our recognitions & certificates.
Our main offices are located in Ghent, Belgium. We also have a subsidiary located in Kettering, Ohio to serve the needs of our American customers.
Testing duration depends on the specific type of test and the product itself. This can range from a couple of weeks for material characteristics testing, to months or even years for biodegradation testing. As these are microbial processes, we cannot predict the exact duration beforehand.
