EUBCE 2025 - Michelle GIAN - Assessment of Social Hotspots in Emerging Biofuel Value Chains

Assessment of Social Hotspots in Emerging Biofuel Value Chains

Short Introductive summary

The transition to sustainable supply chains requires balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations. While past efforts have prioritized environmental and economic impacts, social dimensions,such as labor rights and equity,are increasingly recognized as essential for comprehensive sustainability. The energy and transport sectors, which are major greenhouse gas (GHG) contributors in Europe, underscore the urgency of adopting alternative energy sources like biofuels to meet climate goals. Our research investigates the emerging value chain of converting household waste into biofuels, focusing on the often-overlooked social impacts. Unlike first- and second-generation biofuels, which face issues like land use and food security, waste-to-fuel technologies offer environmental benefits by utilizing organic waste. However, societal implications—such as potential disruptions to existing waste management systems and inequities in resource access—remain underexplored. To address this gap, we will perform an ex-ante analysis to identify social hotspots, assessing labor conditions, community well-being, and equity. Using a materiality assessment that combines literature reviews

M. Gian, AMIBM, Geleen, THE NETHERLANDS
S.V. Obydenkova, AMIBM, Geleen, THE NETHERLANDS
Y. van der Meer, AMIBM, Geleen, THE NETHERLANDS