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@ARTICLE{Springer:1029533,
author = {Springer, Sally K. and Wulf, Christina and Zapp, Petra},
title = {{PSILCA} database for social life cycle assessment: worker
hours vs. raw values approach},
journal = {The international journal of life cycle assessment},
volume = {0},
issn = {0948-3349},
address = {Landsberg},
publisher = {Ecomed Verl.-Ges.},
reportid = {FZJ-2024-05149},
pages = {1-24},
year = {2024},
note = {Online first},
abstract = {Purpose Progressive development within the research area of
social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) has recently
occurred,for example, GreenDelta introduced a new direct
quantification approach using raw values in the PSILCA
database. Thiscomplements the concept of the activity
variable worker hours, which has many advantages and
disadvantages. This paperaims to assess this new approach by
identifying its characteristics, opportunities, and
challenges in comparison to the initialworker hours
approach.Methods The general use of activity variables in
S-LCA is outlined, followed by an elaboration of the
characteristics, purposes,and functionalities of the worker
hours approach as well as the raw values approach of PSILCA.
This comparison ofapproaches includes different data
components, calculation procedures, and their upsides and
downsides and is based onmaterials provided by GreenDelta as
well as our own elaborations. Two components of a fuel cell
electric vehicle, the gliderand the proton exchange membrane
fuel cell, serve as sample applications for the comparison
and are briefly describedbefore their calculation is
executed in the software openLCA, using both PSILCA
approaches. The question of whether thedifferences in the
approaches contradict a comparison is answered: The PSILCA
results of the sample applications can becompared to derive
further characteristics.Results and discussion The
comparison comprises two modeling requirements for the raw
values approach as well as theirmajor consequence. They
concern the execution by the practitioner: inventory
indicators must be added to every unit process,the choice of
inventory indicators must be the same for every unit
process, the amount of the reference flow in the
outputalways has to equal “1 USD,” and consequently, the
number of unit processes has an influence on the results.
Furthermore,the results of the S-LCA sample applications
reveal that the direct impacts in the raw values approach
tend to be greater thanthose in the worker hours approach.
The reason can be found in the different calculation
procedures as well as the differentvariables
included.Conclusions Both approaches have benefits and
drawbacks. Depending on the goal of the study to be pursued,
the one or theother might be advantageous. In both cases, it
is key to understand the modeling requirements and the
calculation approachused to interpret the PSILCA results.},
cin = {ICE-2},
ddc = {690},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)ICE-2-20101013},
pnm = {1112 - Societally Feasible Transformation Pathways
(POF4-111) / 1111 - Effective System Transformation Pathways
(POF4-111) / DFG project G:(GEPRIS)491111487 -
Open-Access-Publikationskosten / 2022 - 2024 /
Forschungszentrum Jülich (OAPKFZJ) (491111487)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-1112 / G:(DE-HGF)POF4-1111 /
G:(GEPRIS)491111487},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
UT = {WOS:001284564300003},
doi = {10.1007/s11367-024-02348-0},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1029533},
}