Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Social Life Cycle Assessment of Healthcare Waste Supply Chains Cover

Social Life Cycle Assessment of Healthcare Waste Supply Chains

Environmental and Climate Technologies
Volume 29 (2025): Issue 1 (January 2025)
By:
Open Access
|Sep 2025

References

  1. Reibling N., Ariaans M., Wendt C. Worlds of Healthcare: A Healthcare System Typology of OECD Countries. <em>Health Policy (New York)</em> 2019:123(7):611–620. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.05.001" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.05.001</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.05.001</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  2. Dri M., Canfora P., Antonopoulos I., Gaudillat P. Best Environmental Management Practice for the Waste Management Sector, <em>Publications Office of the European Union</em>, 2018. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.2760/50247" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.2760/50247</a>">https://doi.org/10.2760/50247</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  3. Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, “Healthcare waste”. [Online]. [Accessed 11.12.2023]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/veselibas-aprupes-atkritumi">https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/veselibas-aprupes-atkritumi</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  4. World Health Organization. Overview of technologies for the treatment of infectious and sharp waste from health care facilities. 2019. [Online]. [Accessed 11.12.2023]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516228">https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516228</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  5. United Nations Environment Programme. Compendium of Technologies for the Treatment/Destruction of Healthcare Waste, 2012. [Online]. [Accessed 11.12.2023]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/8628">https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/8628</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  6. Li C. <em>et al.</em> Bridging the Energy Benefit and POPs Emission Risk from Waste Incineration. <em>The Innovation</em> 2021:2(1):100075. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100075" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100075</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100075</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  7. Zlaugotne B., Pubule J., Gusca J., Kalnins S. N. Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Healthcare Waste and Resource Potential Assessment. <em>Environmental and Climate Technologies</em> 2022:26(1):64–74. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0006" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0006</a>">https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0006</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  8. Korhonen J., Honkasalo A., Seppälä J. Circular Economy: The Concept and its Limitations. <em>Ecological Economics</em> 2018:143:37–46. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.041" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.041</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.041</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  9. Luthin A., Traverso M., Crawford R. H. Assessing the social life cycle impacts of circular economy. <em>Journal of Clean Production</em> 2023:386:135725. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135725" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135725</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135725</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  10. European Parliament. Directive (EU) 2022/2464 as regards corporate sustainability reporting, amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting. <em>Official Journal of the European Union</em> 2022: L 322/15
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  11. Bouillass G., Blanc I., Perez-Lopez P. Step-by-step social life cycle assessment framework: a participatory approach for the identification and prioritization of impact subcategories applied to mobility scenarios. <em>The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment</em> 2021:26:2408–2435. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-021-01988-w" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-021-01988-w</a>">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-021-01988-w</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  12. Arcese G., Lucchetti M. C., Merli R. Social life cycle assessment as a management tool: Methodology for application in tourism. <em>Sustainability (Switzerland)</em> 2013:5(8):3275–3287. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su5083275" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.3390/su5083275</a>">https://doi.org/10.3390/su5083275</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  13. United Nations Environment Programme. Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products and Organisations. [Online]. [Accessed 20.06.2023]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/library/guidelines-for-social-life-cycle-assessment-of-products-and-organisations-2020/">https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/library/guidelines-for-social-life-cycle-assessment-of-products-and-organisations-2020/</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  14. United Nations Environment Programme. Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products. United Nations Environment Programme, 2009. [Online]. [Accessed 20.06.2023]. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.unep.org/resources/report/guidelines-social-life-cycle-assessment-products">https://www.unep.org/resources/report/guidelines-social-life-cycle-assessment-products</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  15. International Organization for Standardization, ISO 14075:2024 Environmental management – Principles and framework for social life cycle assessment. 2024. [Online]. [Accessed 20.06.2023]. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.iso.org/standard/61118.html">https://www.iso.org/standard/61118.html</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  16. Paoli R., Pechsiri J. S., Souza A., Romagnoli F. Social Life Cycle Assessment for Wild Harvesting and Cultivation of <em>F. Lumbricalis</em> Red Macroalgae. <em>CONECT International Scientific Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies</em>. Riga, May 14–16, 2025. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.7250/CONECT.2025.076" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.7250/CONECT.2025.076</a>">https://doi.org/10.7250/CONECT.2025.076</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  17. Messmann L., Köhler S., Antimisaris K., Fieber R., Thorenz A., Tuma A. Indicator-based environmental and social sustainability assessment of hospitals: A literature review. <em>Journal of Cleaner Production</em> 2024:466:142721. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142721" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142721</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142721</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  18. Jones A. <em>et al.</em> Investigating the Spatial Relationship between Social Vulnerability and Healthcare Facility Distribution in Nassau County, New York. <em>International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health</em> 2023:20(5):4353. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054353" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054353</a>">https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054353</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  19. Chang D.-S., Wang W.-S., Wang R. Identifying Critical Factors of Sustainable Healthcare Institutions’ Indicators Under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance System. <em>Social Indicators Research</em> 2018:140(1):287–307. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1761-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1761-7</a>">https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1761-7</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  20. Tuan N. Q. <em>et al.</em> Prevalence and Factors Associated with Psychological Problems of Healthcare Workforce in Vietnam: Findings from COVID-19 Hotspots in the National Second Wave. <em>Healthcare</em> 2021:9(6). <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060718" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060718</a>">https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060718</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  21. Zhao X., Klemeš J. J., Saxon M., You F. How sustainable are the biodegradable medical gowns via environmental and social life cycle assessment? <em>Journal of Cleaner Production</em> 2022:380:135153. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135153" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135153</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135153</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  22. Shaikh S., Thomas K., Zuhair S., Magalini F. A cost-benefit analysis of the downstream impacts of e-waste recycling in Pakistan. <em>Waste Management</em> 2020:118:302–312. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.039" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.039</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.039</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  23. Turcott Cervantes D. E., López Martínez A., Cuartas Hernández M., Lobo García de Cortázar A. Using indicators as a tool to evaluate municipal solid waste management: A critical review. <em>Waste Management</em> 2018:80:51–63. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.08.046" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.08.046</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.08.046</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  24. Rametsteiner E., Pülzl H., Alkan-Olsson J., Frederiksen P. Sustainability indicator development-science or political negotiation? <em>Ecological Indicators</em> 2011:11(1):61–70. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.06.009" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.06.009</a>">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.06.009</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  25. Bulgarian National Audit Office, State Audit Office of the Republic of Croatia, State Audit Office of Hungary, State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia, and Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic, Joint report on measures taken in poverty alleviation, 2021.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  26. European Anti Poverty Network Latvia, Poverty Watch Report, 2022.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  27. Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index. [Online]. [Accessed 06.05.2025]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024">https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  28. Providus. Corruption in the health sector: challenges and examples of good practice in Latvia. 2015.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  29. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, “Anti-Corruption Trends in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”, 2025. [Online]. [Accessed 09.05.2025]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/anti-corruption-trends-in-eastern-europe-and-central-asia_69c92037-en/full-report/component-3.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/anti-corruption-trends-in-eastern-europe-and-central-asia_69c92037-en/full-report/component-3.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  30. ZiemelisE., Zvaigzne A., Silina L. Effectiveness assessment of the internal control system at national institutions in the area of conflict of interest and corruption in Latvia. <em>Journal of Regional Economic and Social Development</em> 2024:16:172–187. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.17770/jresd2024vol16.8276" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.17770/jresd2024vol16.8276</a>">https://doi.org/10.17770/jresd2024vol16.8276</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  31. International Organization for Standardization, ISO 37001:2025 Anti-bribery management systems – Requirements with guidance for use. 2025.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  32. Behmane D. A new initiative (2024–2029) aims to attract health professionals to work in the public sector. <em>Policy Analysis</em> 2023.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  33. Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia, Cabinet Order No. 1194 About the plan Health Workforce Development Strategy 2025-2029<em>,</em> 2024.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  34. European Labour Authority and S. A. and I. Directorate-General for Employment, Three ways EU health and social organisations attract and retain staff, 2024.
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  35. Lukjanska S. Fears of future skills and labour shortages in Latvian healthcare sector. [Online]. [Accessed 20.08.2025]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/11.04.2025-fears-of-future-skills-and-labour-shortages-in-latvian-healthcare-sector.a595148/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/11.04.2025-fears-of-future-skills-and-labour-shortages-in-latvian-healthcare-sector.a595148/?utm_source=chatgpt.com</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  36. Zirnite A. Health and Social Care Employees’ Union expects Health Ministry to raise medical staff’s salaries by at least 13.5%, LETA. [Online]. [Accessed 26.08.2025]. Available: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://leta.lv/eng/home/important/7EE770F1-3733-4BD1-B624-F52E12110009/">https://leta.lv/eng/home/important/7EE770F1-3733-4BD1-B624-F52E12110009/</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
  37. Jirgensons G. EU Health Policy and the Healthcare Labour Market in Latvia: The Out-Migration of Healthcare Practitioners. <em>Studia Europejskie – Studies in European Affairs</em> 2024:149–163. <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="<a href="https://doi.org/10.33067/SE.1.2024.8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text-signal-blue hover:underline">https://doi.org/10.33067/SE.1.2024.8</a>">https://doi.org/10.33067/SE.1.2024.8</ext-link>
    Search in Google ScholarBack to article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0040 | Journal eISSN: 2255-8837 | Journal ISSN: 1691-5208
Journal RSS Feed
Language: English
Page range: 581 - 599
Submitted on: Apr 9, 2025
Accepted on: Sep 10, 2025
Published on: Sep 20, 2025
Published by: Riga Technical University
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 times per year
Keywords:
Case study,
medical waste,
social hotspots,
supply chain
Related subjects:
Life sciences,
Life sciences, other

© 2025 Julija Gusca, Inga Kondratenko, Beate Zlaugotne, Jelena Pubule, Anda Zandberga, Silvija Nora Kalnins, published by Riga Technical University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Previous articleVolume 29 (2025): Issue 1 (January 2025)Next article