Xiaojun Sun

60734570200

Publications - 1

Quantitative social life cycle assessment of plastic, bioplastic, and paper packaging systems

Publication Name: Journal of Cleaner Production

Publication Date: 2026-08-02

Volume: 573

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Social impacts in packaging supply chains remain underexplored compared to environmental and economic aspects, despite their growing relevance in sustainability decision-making. This study applies Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) to evaluate the social sustainability of three carrier bag types: low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic and kraft paper. The assessment is conducted using OpenLCA by integrating primary data with the SOCA V2 database, and focuses on four stakeholder groups, including Local Communities, Society, Value Chain Actors, and Workers. Social impacts are quantified across life cycle stages and stakeholder categories. Results are expressed as “medium risk hours,” a relative indicator used for comparative hotspot identification. The results indicate that Society and Value Chain Actors face high to very high risks (>40%) across all materials, highlighting potential areas for improvements. The PLA bioplastic bag exhibits the highest social impacts during raw material production, while the kraft paper bag performs worst in manufacturing and end-of life treatment. Overall social impacts rank PLA bioplastic highest (95.79 medium risk hours), followed by kraft paper (54.45), and LDPE plastic (35.15), a ranking that challenges common assumptions about the sustainability of bioplastics and paper alternatives. This quantitative social impact analysis provides clear, data-driven insights into social risk hotspots and improvement opportunities.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148939