How to measure social impacts? A socio-eco-efficiency analysis by the SEEBALANCE® method

BASF has, in cooperation with Karlsruhe University, Jena University and the Oko-Institut e.V. (Germany), developed a socio-eco-efficiency analysis -- the so-called SEEBALANCE®. The objective was the integration of quantified social indicators into the BASF eco-efficiency analysis. Many life cycle analyses do not include an assessment of social impacts and effects. However, in order to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of products or processes, it is necessary to include all three dimensions of sustainability. The objective was to develop a tool, comparable to the BASF eco-efficiency analysis, which is simple to use by LCA-experts and easy-to-understand for people without any prior experience in the field.