Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) is a methodological approach used to evaluate the social and socio-economic impacts of products throughout their life cycle. When applied to battery value chains, S-LCA provides critical insights into the human dimensions of mining, manufacturing, and recycling operations. Unlike traditional environmental life cycle assessments (LCA), which focus on ecological impacts, S-LCA examines labor conditions, community welfare, health and safety risks, and broader societal implications. Given the rapid expansion of battery production to meet global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage, understanding these social dimensions is essential for sustainable development.

The battery value chain presents unique social challenges due to its reliance on critical materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite. These materials are often sourced from regions with weak governance, poor labor protections, or artisanal mining practices. Assessing social impacts requires a structured framework that captures both direct and indirect effects on workers, local communities, and society at large. Key impact categories in S-LCA for batteries include labor rights, community impacts, and health and safety.

Labor rights are a major concern in the extraction of battery raw materials. Cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which supplies a significant portion of global cobalt, has been linked to child labor, hazardous working conditions, and exploitative wages. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations, which lack formal oversight, often employ workers without proper safety equipment or fair compensation. Lithium extraction, particularly in South America’s lithium triangle (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile), involves large-scale brine operations that can displace local communities and strain water resources. Social indicators for labor rights include fair wages, working hours, forced labor incidence, and unionization rates.

Community impacts encompass the effects of mining and manufacturing on nearby populations. Large-scale mining operations can lead to land displacement, water contamination, and disruption of traditional livelihoods. In lithium-producing regions, competition for water between mining operations and agricultural communities has raised concerns about resource equity. Manufacturing facilities, often located in industrial zones, may contribute to local air pollution or noise disturbances. Community-related indicators include access to clean water, land use conflicts, resettlement rates, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Health and safety risks are prevalent across all stages of the battery life cycle. In mining, exposure to toxic dust, heavy metals, and unsafe tunneling conditions poses significant hazards. Battery manufacturing involves handling flammable electrolytes and toxic solvents, requiring strict occupational safety protocols. Recycling operations, particularly in informal sectors, may expose workers to hazardous substances without adequate protective measures. Health and safety indicators include workplace injury rates, exposure limits compliance, and availability of medical care.

One of the primary challenges in S-LCA for batteries is data availability and quality. Unlike environmental LCA, which relies on quantifiable emissions and resource use data, social impacts often involve qualitative or context-specific factors. Artisanal mining, for example, operates outside formal supply chains, making it difficult to track labor conditions systematically. Additionally, social impacts are highly localized, meaning that assessments must account for regional socio-economic conditions rather than applying universal metrics.

Several frameworks exist to guide S-LCA in battery value chains. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment provide a standardized approach, categorizing impacts into five stakeholder groups: workers, local communities, society, consumers, and value chain actors. The Global Battery Alliance’s Battery Passport initiative incorporates social criteria such as responsible sourcing and human rights due diligence. Industry-specific tools like the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) offer certification schemes for mining operations based on social and environmental performance.

Integrating S-LCA with environmental LCA enables a more holistic sustainability assessment. While environmental LCA quantifies carbon emissions, energy use, and toxicity, S-LCA adds the human dimension, ensuring that decarbonization efforts do not come at the expense of social welfare. For example, a battery with a low carbon footprint but reliant on conflict minerals would score poorly in S-LCA despite its environmental benefits. Policymakers and corporations increasingly recognize the need for combined assessments to avoid unintended consequences.

Quantifying social impacts remains an evolving field, with ongoing efforts to develop robust indicators and weighting methods. Some studies employ scoring systems where performance across social criteria is aggregated into a single metric, while others use multi-criteria decision analysis to balance trade-offs. The lack of standardized databases for social inventory data complicates comparisons between studies, though initiatives like the Social Hotspots Database aim to improve transparency.

In conclusion, social life cycle assessment is a vital tool for evaluating the human dimensions of battery production and recycling. By addressing labor rights, community welfare, and health risks, S-LCA complements environmental assessments to ensure truly sustainable battery value chains. Challenges such as data gaps and regional variability require continued methodological refinement, but existing frameworks provide a foundation for responsible decision-making. As demand for batteries grows, integrating social considerations into sustainability strategies will be crucial for equitable and ethical industry development.