Binder, CR, Schmid, A and Steinberger, JK (2012) Sustainability solution space of the Swiss milk value added chain. Ecological Economics, 83. 210 - 220. ISSN 0921-8009
Abstract
Current indicator-based sustainability assessment approaches usually have three shortcomings: (i) ecological aspects are mostly overrepresented in relation to importance and complexity of economic and social aspects; (ii) they center on filling important gaps in scientific knowledge, but miss on utilization and implementation; and (iii) the assessment results themselves are difficult to implement in decision-making, as conflicting goals and the interaction between indicators have not been sufficiently considered. We propose an approach that fulfills systemic criteria, i.e., sufficient representation of the system including functional interaction among indicators; normative criteria, i.e., considering the different value perspectives of stakeholders by including them in the process and designing sustainability ranges rather; and (iii) procedural criteria, i.e. pursuing the assessment in a true transdisciplinary process. We present the SSP and its application for the Swiss milk value added chain. The system is described with a set of 8 ecological and 9 socio-economic indicators. The sustainability ranges were obtained through literature research and stakeholder interviews. The relationship among the indicators was elicited in a transdisciplinary workshop. The SSP program takes a geometric approach to determine the intersection space corresponding to the satisfaction of the normative ranges while taking into account the functional interactions of the indicators.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 01 Oct 2013 12:06 |
Last Modified: | 15 Sep 2014 03:00 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.06.022 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.06.022 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:76546 |