Contributions to the sustainable development goals in life cycle sustainability assessment: Insights from the Handprint research project

Michael Kühnen (), Samanthi Silva (), Janpeter Beckmann (), Ulrike Eberle (), Rüdiger Hahn (), Christoph Hermann (), Stefan Schaltegger () and Marianne Schmid ()
Additional contact information
Michael Kühnen: University of Hohenheim
Samanthi Silva: Leuphana University Lüneburg
Janpeter Beckmann: Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP)
Ulrike Eberle: University of Witten/Herdecke
Rüdiger Hahn: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
Christoph Hermann: Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP)
Stefan Schaltegger: Leuphana University Lüneburg
Marianne Schmid: University of Witten/Herdecke

Sustainability Nexus Forum, 2019, vol. 27, issue 1, No 6, 65-82

Abstract: Abstract The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent consensual, global scale targets, encouraging not only the fight against unsustainable aspects in society (e. g., poverty or hunger) but also positive contributions to sustainable development (e. g., renewable energy use or human well-being). The SDGs are, however, not per se designed as a performance measurement system for businesses and products. Consequently, research is challenged to develop convincing approaches and indicator systems that capture how businesses contribute to the SDGs. Against this background, the Handprint approach was developed. This paper documents methodological developments of a respective research project and extends the focus from reducing unsustainable, negative business practices toward striving for positive contributions to sustainable development in sustainability assessment and management. We first summarize the status quo of assessing positive contributions to sustainable development in research and practice. While a “Footprint” approach primarily measures negative environmental and/or social impacts, the “Handprint” approach focuses on positive contributions to sustainable development. Second, we illustrate and prioritize core assessment categories and indicators. Third, we describe how a sustainability assessment approach to evaluate positive contributions to sustainable development at the product level was developed and demonstrate its feasibility in a pilot case study.

Keywords: Handprint; Life cycle sustainability assessment; Sustainable development goals; Product sustainability assessment; Multi-method approach; Fuzzy set theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00550-019-00484-y

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