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Advancing Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) for Public Services: Evaluating Water Supply Systems in Venice and Treviso

Life Cycle Management from Global to Local | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Libom B.S.; Manzardo A.; Presta S.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-17987-6_29

Journal: Life Cycle Management from Global to Local

Year: 2026

Publisher: Springer Science+Business Media

Document Type: Book chapter

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

This study explores applying social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) to Piave Servizi S.p.A, a public utility managing water supply in Treviso and Venice. The research adapts the UNEP methodology to evaluate social impacts on six stakeholder groups. A custom framework with 13 stakeholder categories, 45 impacts subcategories, and 203 indicators was developed. Data was collected through surveys and documents. Findings show positive performance regarding water quality, employment stability, and environmental awareness. However, gaps in equal opportunity, communication, and stakeholder engagement were identified. Results support S-LCA’s relevance in public services despite data access and stakeholder diversity challenges. The results support the relevance of S-LCA in public services, despite the challenges associated with access to data and the diversity of stakeholders. The scores for each stakeholder were calculated, and the results generally indicate good social performance across all stakeholder groups, except for the local community, which shows high risks related to service transparency and communication channels that require urgent attention. The study then offers methodological innovation aligned with SDGs 1, 10, and 11. It highlights the need for better communication, technological integration, and stakeholder inclusion. Future integration of ISO 14075:2024 is recommended for comparability, robustness, and harmonization of terminology. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2026.

Keywords

Economic and social effects; Information systems; Life cycle; Life cycle assessment; Data access; Environmental awareness; Equal opportunity; Performance; Public services; Social impact; Social life; Stakeholder engagement; Stakeholder groups; Water-supply systems; Public utilities