Social organisational LCA for the academic activity of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU

Abstract Purpose This article aims to estimate the social footprint of a higher education institution (HEI) and its potential contribution Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. The organisational (SO-LCA) academic activity University Basque Country (UPV/EHU), in northern Spain, has been performed, order impacts. Method run using openLCA software supported on PSILCA-based Soca add-on for Ecoinvent v3.3 database, covering 53 indicators almost 15,000 industrial sectors goods 189 countries. Results discussion analysis undertaken reflects impacts associated risk levels four stakeholders: Workers, Local Community, Society, Value Chain Actors. Labour UPV/EHU is sub-process with greatest impact, followed by processes related transport, energy, materials, waste management. Among socio-economic context which supports (indirect impacts), existence traces child labour illiteracy outside stands out. Further would be required more accurately determine geographical location such impacts, also better tackle concept debt. Conclusion SO-LCA may have great HEIs, helping them identify hotspots, reduce their footprint, raise awareness among community, undoubtedly contributes knowledge, progress, human values, sustainability these HEIs stand for. Graphical abstract