Social Impact Assessment Matrix for the Wood Industry: A New Decision-Making Tool

The wood industry faces increasingly complex social and environmental challenges. From working conditions at various processing stages to responsible sourcing and health and safety concerns related to wood treatments, companies in the sector must navigate difficult trade-offs in their sourcing decisions.

To address this growing need for decision-making tools, a new social impact assessment matrix has been developed specifically for the wood industry. This innovative tool adapts Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) principles to the concrete realities of the sector.

A practical tool for managing social performance

This social assessment matrix serves two main purposes. First, it enables companies to benchmark their performance levels across identified social issues. Second, it transforms theoretical principles into a genuine operational management tool, moving beyond abstract frameworks.

The innovation lies in its pragmatic approach: rather than an abstract reference system, it provides a concrete instrument that industry stakeholders can use to improve their practices and social impact.

A recognized scientific contribution

This tool is featured in the collective work Social Life Cycle Assessment – Issues, Theory and Practices, published by Presses des Mines and edited by Ghada Bouillass, Paula Pérez-López, and Guillaume Busato, following the 2024 Annual Thematic Workshop of EcoSD.

The contribution titled "Decision-Making Tool: Social Assessment Matrix Adapted to the Wood Sector," authored by Monika Mousavi, Julien Larrenduche, and Marie Vuaillat from EVEA, is part of a collective effort to embed S-LCA in companies' operational practices.

This publication marks a significant milestone in developing social assessment tools tailored to specific sectors, paving the way for better integration of social considerations into wood industry sourcing strategies.