Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar

Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar Yusuph Rashid This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6556099/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Social life cycle assessment (SCLA) is an emerging framework for sustainability assessment of processes, companies and products throughout their life cycle that is popularly known in the Global North. Seaweed farming is one of blue economy which is seen as a contributor to sustainable development in Zanzibar. This study examines the social life cycle assessment (SLCA) of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania in accordance to the UNEP sustainability assessment. The objective is to assess the potential social impact of seaweed farming. The study identifies the stakeholder categories and sub-categories whose positive impact is more pronounced on community stakeholders. The system boundaries of the study include all phases from cradle-to-gate, i.e. from on-farm to production of seaweed products. Two stakeholder groups were considered (workers and local communities) as those that better represent the seaweed farming. The analysis carried out on the functional unit of the study allowed assessing social impact of the process and product. The application of Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) to Seaweed farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania adopts the UNEP Social Life Cycle Assessment guidelines. The study objective is to assess the potential social, economic and environmental impact of seaweed farming. The study identifies the positive impacts on community stakeholders. The system boundaries of the study include all phases from cradle-to-gate, i.e. from on-farm to production of seaweed products. Two stakeholder groups were considered (workers and local communities) as those that better represent the seaweed farming. The analysis carried out on the functional unit of the study allowed assessing social impact of the process and product. Seaweed farming contributes to new production system that ought to observe sustainability questions. SLCA presents new approaches for sustainability assessment in the East African context thus it becomes a novel methodology to in the region. The study results contribute to scholarly work on S-LCA as a methodological tool to inform business decisions, assessing social impact of products on stakeholders and therefore inform policy decisions. Seaweed farming is of the strategic productive sector in Zanzibar as it contributes to employment and economic growth. This sector is projected to increase production and employment through the established manufacturing farming. One of the methods for assessing sustainability of production is the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) technique, which assesses the potential social, economic and environmental impact which is valuable to inform policy decisions. Other Public Policy Seaweed Blue Economy policy SLCA Sustainability Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 1.0 Introduction Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is a methodological framework emerged in the 1990s extending from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). While LCA focuses on environmental and economic life cycle assessment (Collins et al., 2022) that have predominated the academic literature and project or programme impact assessments, SLCA considers three pillars of sustainability including social, economic and environment impact (van Haaster et al., 2017). (Dreyer et al., 2006) argue that in order to enhance the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a tool in business decision-making, social life cycle assessment is used to facilitate companies to conduct business in a socially responsible manner by providing information about the potential social impacts on people caused by the activities in life cycle of their product. The S-LCA is developed to guide businesses and organizations to have responsibility to the people affected by their business activities while they should remain economically viable to compete in the market as well as make profit in order to survive. This study illustrates the application of SLCA in a seaweed farming case study in Zanzibar as one of the Blue economic interventions (Suleiman et al., 2023). Blue Economy (BE) as a development framework depicts life below water covering the ocean economy for countries endowed with marine resources (Lee et al., 2020). It originated from the 2012 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Eikeset et al., 2018); whereby scholars refer to the ocean economy or marine economy interchangeably (Lee et al., 2020; Spalding, 2016). The BE was further conceived by the African Union in the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy that recognizes the vast maritime potential for wealth creation in the Sub-Saharan Africa (Benzaken, 2016; Negm, 2022). In the context of Zanzibar and Tanzania at large, Blue Economy has been practiced since time in memorial including among others, marine fisheries, coastal tourism, ocean transportation, seaweed farming largely in the Indian Ocean (Shalli et al., 2024; Shimba et al., 2021; Ulega et al., 2023). However, it is an emerging concept in scholarly work as well as in policy development framework (Zakayo & Mbilinyi, 2023). The development of commercial seaweed farming in Zanzibar can be traced in Paje and Jambiani villages on the East Coast of Zanzibar producing “Eucheuma in the 1970s, followed by denticulatum, Kappaphycus in the early 1980s (Msuya et al., 2016). The importance of Seaweed farming in Zanzibar has been increasing with a production of 13,000 tons (Msuya, 1989). Seaweed farming has now become an important farming activity contributing significantly to the economy of Zanzibar (Burra, 2023). It is the third revenue earner, creating employment and improving livelihoods, especially to women (Makame, 2022), representing one of strategic productive sectors for sustainable development in Zanzibar with huge economic importance. This is also observed in (Hamad & Islam, 2022) study that seaweed farming is a Blue economy activity taking place along the coastal areas of the Indian ocean providing alternative livelihood sources for small-scale coastal fishing communities, mainly to about 80% of the women who are engaged in seaweed farming. This sector is one of the dependable large export businesses, providing employment to more than 25,000 people, with 90 percent of them being women (Hafidh & Soud, 2024; Msafiri, 2021). However, seaweed farming in Zanzibar is constrained on sustainability concerns with its inability to meet the current needs without comprising the future generation, which is assessed on three sustainability pillars of social, economic and environment. Given the economic important of seaweed in Zanzibar, sustainability assessment using the Social Life Cycle Assessment dimensions is applied to examine its applicability and assess the potential impact of seaweed sector to Zanzibar. The study employs Social-Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) framework to explore potential impacts on social well-being resulting from implementation of Seaweed farming and product processing. The potential social, economic and environmental impact of the seaweed farming in Zanzibar uses a developed analytical tool for assessing the potential social, economic and environmental impact of production processes, products and activities (Finkbeiner et al., 2010). Our conceptualization of S-LCA is that seaweed farming is a cradle-to-gate assessment from farm to factory production, which is a partial product life cycle from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate of the seaweed products. 1.2 Statement of Problem Seaweed farming involves sustainable production of marine resources from farm to factory for processing. It involves multiple stakeholders including small-holder farmers and community engaged in this economic activity. The seaweed farming use production and processing technologies with potential effect to natural resource and environmental degradation as well as stakeholders. Some studies describe sea weed harvesting and processing associating with a range of occupational hazards and associated health problems (Ngajilo et al., 2024). However, there is insufficient information on the social, economic and environmental impact of the seaweed farming in Zanzibar. 1.4 Objectives and scope The study mainly aims at assessing the potential social, economic and environmental impact of s seaweed farming in Zanzibar. 1.4.1 Specific objectives: The study targeted on the assessment of seaweed farming on the social life cycle assessment framework Specifically the objective was to: Analyze the social impact of seaweed farming in Zanzibar Examine the economic impact of seaweed farming in Zanzibar Examine the environmental impact of seaweed farming in Zanzibar Assess sustainability of Zanzibar’s seaweed farming in Zanzibar. 1.5 Research questions What are the social impacts of Zanzibar’s seaweed farming? What are the economic impacts of Zanzibar’s seaweed farming? How does Zanzibar’s seaweed farming impact communities? What UNEP/SETAC guidelines address S-LCA in Seaweed farming in Tanzania? 1.6 Research Hypothesis The following hypothesis is used in this study testing the socio-economic standard of the seaweed community in the Zanzibar Island. H 0 : Seaweed farming has no significant impact on socio-economic living standards of the people of Zanzibar H 1 : Seaweed farming has significant impact on socio-economic living standards of the people of Zanzibar 2.0 Literature review Social-Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is one of robust methodologies for holistic assessment of potential social, economic and environmental impacts of technologies, products and intervention (Wu et al., 2014). The S-LCA adopt UNEP-SETAC guidelines (Traverso & Valdivia, 2024) as a framework of analysis begins by defining goal and scope, inventory analysis, and then optionally continues to quantitative impact assessment, and it ends with the interpretation (Wulf et al., 2019). S-LCA is also a method to assess the environmental performance of various production systems, product environmental footprints to promote sustainability (Curran, 2012). S-LCA is also used to evaluate environmental impacts related to changes in industrialization technology use, resource availability and net productivity and in natural carbon. As the Social Life Cycle assessment is a widely-used method to examine the environmental impact caused by industrial production of products, it is used to assess Zanzibar’s seaweed farming in relation to potential social, economic and environmental impact that requires ISO 14040 and 14043 standards for Seaweed farming (Serenella Sala et al., 2015). These standards rely on a combination of standards outline requirements associated with the three pillars of sustainability. The global development frameworks are concerned with extents of social impacts of production, consumption and economic systems in ways such as child labour, safety working, living conditions, employment, and dignified wages. The Sustainable Development Goals framework guides countries on specific development policies and pathways to address the socio-economic and environmental concerns and the need to ensure their sustainability. In this context, S-LCA method has become an important and relevant techniques for sustainability assessment provided in the UNEP/SETAC (Mármol et al., 2023). The use of UNEP/SETAC sustainability assessment criteria depends on the selected indicators that adequately measure relevant sustainability outcomes. These include S-LCA sub-categories in Seaweed farming socio-economic and environmental impact and ecosystem management outcomes (e.g., fostering local employment, promoting economic growth, conserving natural resources, sequestering carbon, and maintaining ecosystems). The S-LCA offers a systematic approach for sustainability impact assessment categories using the ISO 14040 standards which defines the four major phases of S-LCA including goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and result interpretation (Alhaj et al., 2022). The purpose of a S-LCA is to provide information on social issues for decision-making and to help inform incremental improvements. The S-LCA approach is used to evaluate the social impacts of a product as published in 2009 by the UNEP–SETAC with its Life Cycle Initiative and extensive “Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products”(Traverso & Valdivia, 2024). The UNEP–SETAC guidelines specify 31 relevant subcategories as core elements of the methodology, which are described to five important stakeholder groups of a S-LCA of workers, local community, society, consumers and value chain actors (Lobsiger-Kägi et al., 2018). The United Nations Environment Program/Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (UNEP-SETAC) Life Cycle offers the S-LCA methodology and guidelines consisting of four interconnected phases, namely; goal and scope; inventory analysis; impact assessment; and interpretation (Benoît-Norris et al., 2011; Corona et al., 2017; SETAC, 2020). This study adopted UNEP-SETAC guidelines for social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) of seaweed cradle to gate assessment in Zanzibar. We considered the four phases: Goal and Scope, Life Cycle Inventory, Life Cycle Impact Assessment and Interpretation (UNEP, 2009) (Fig. 1). The definition of the goal and scope of any SLCA study is very important for understanding the social, economic and environmental impact. We used the UNEP–SETAC guidelines for the Goal and Scope definition phase. The goal of our study was to assess the social, economic and environment impact of seaweed cradle to gate to all stakeholder categories and subcategories. 3.0 METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction The segments covered in this chapter include; research design, study area, targeted study population, analysis of inquiry, measurement of variables, size of sample and sampling techniques, source of data, data collection techniques, validity issues, and test of reliability as well as the methods of data analysis. 3.2 Area of the Study This study was conducted in Zanzibar Island regions with extensive seaweed farming, these include North, South, and Urban West regions. The selection of this location based on the activity being intensively and extensively implemented in marine based farming. 3.3 Research Design A case study research design was used because it the study gathered specific information about the specific seaweed farming for specific area. This method is used to investigate the effects of a particular phenomenon and describe the nature of the situation as it existed at the time of the study (Kothari, 2004). The case design enabled the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of the seaweed farming through interaction with key informants as sources of knowledge to meet goals of this study. 3.4 Target population The target population were the farmers, communities and stakeholders engaged in seaweed farming. A total of 8,664 seaweed stakeholders of which 8054 were women and 610 were men. These people are scattered in 3 regions and a total of 50 villages involved which necessitate the need for sampling to be applied. 3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures 3.5.1 Sample size A sample of 97 participants were selected representing the region's farmers, factory workers, as well as the community stakeholders, while two respondents were the policy administrators from Zanzibar Seaweed Company (ZASCO). The sample size for the study was determined by using a simplified Yamane 1997 formula, taking into account the above-mentioned target population size: When n is the sample size, N denotes the population size, and e denotes the level of confidence. For the purposes of establishing sample size in this investigation, the 10% margin of error were used under 90% confidence level. Thus, the sample size obtained as; 3.5.2 Sampling techniques A purposeful sampling was also used for selecting areas with intensified and well-developed seaweed farming that provided rich information. Zanzibar in this case was selected for having concentrated farming and some processing factory. Moreover, this kind of sampling was done with one more criterion focusing on the extent of production and number of villages involved in the seaweed farming in each region. The three regions of interest had five districts involved in the products where three districts purposively selected for the study. From each of the 3 districts sampled, three intensive seaweed cultivating villages purposively selected for the study as indicated in Table 1. A sample of 99 representatives was obtained through the probability random sampling technique. Table 1: Sampled districts and villages Region District Village Number Of Participants South Central Uzi 13 Ng’ambwa 10 Bungi 11 North(U) North A Pwani Mchangani 11 Kidoti 8 Kigunda 11 South South Paje 9 Jambiani Kibigija 15 Makunduchi Kajengwa 11 Source: Research Field (2024) 3.7 Data collection and Methods A survey was conducted to seaweed farmers in Zanzibar North, South and Central districts where there are many farmer groups engaged in seaweed farming. Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained throughout the research period in which through the assessment of social impacts, the S-LCA criteria were used to develop the research tool for data collection. The S-LCA is adopted from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-SETAC) through its guideline for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Product (Traverso & Valdivia, 2024). Researchers used Kobo toolbox collect to gather data which acted as a digital research tool for data collection. 3.8 Data Analysis Data analysis included cleaning of the data for accuracy, python coding through Jupyter Notebook software, descriptive analysis and testing of hypotheses. The accuracy of the supplied data was verified. Using UNEP-SETAC guideline, two main categories were involved in the study analysis (workers, and community), with sub-categories and indicators chosen on the basis of their relevance to seaweed farming. The analysis of these subcategories was normalized using five Likert scale showing the level of impacts in each category described as very high, high, medium, low, and very low. These impacts indicator presented graphically as python coding using speedometer graphs, this analysis adopted the study of Giuliana et al. (2024). The scale variable scores were averaged after internal consistency validation of the scale variables to provide mean scores for each respondent per scale parameter measurement. These levels were sub-divided into five % range in 100% where the range predefined as x and distributed in the manner (Very high), (High), (Medium), (Low), (Very low). For the tested hypothesis, the income data were collected and used for the test, Z-score distribution was done due to the nature of the sample study. 4.0 UNEP / SETAC analysis We apply UNEP / SETAC to examine the social life cycle assessment of seaweed farming and processing on categories of producers, workers, distributors, consumers and society. Different subcategories and social indicators were described as the potential positive or negative social impacts on related stakeholders within life cycle stages. The UNEP/SETAC framework for the Social Life Cycle Assessment of product value chains enabled to identify the main social impact indicators on categories and sub-categories defined in the UNEP/SETAC (Benoît-Norris et al., 2011; Martucci et al., 2019; SETAC, 2020). 4.1 Goal and Scope definition The definition of the goal and scope of any S-LCA study is very important for understanding the social, economic and environmental impact. We used the UNEP–SETAC guidelines for the Goal and Scope definition phase. The goal of our study was to assess the social, economic and environment impact of seaweed cradle to gate to all stakeholder categories and subcategories. Goal and scope definition in LCA study is defined as clearly and unambiguously as possible. The goal of the LCA deal with the intended application, the reasons for carrying out the study, intended audience, whether the results are to be used in comparative assertions disclosed to the public, whereas, the scope definition further sets the main outline on a number of subjects that are discussed in more details including “system boundaries, impact categories and treatment of uncertainty” (Curran, 2012; Huertas-Valdivia et al., 2020; Sala et al., 2016). The scope of the study was to capture relevant information from the implementation of a socio-economic development intervention. 4.2 Social Impact Analysis The analysis adopted gate-to-gate life cycle assessment approach for analyzing the social, economic and environmental impact of Zanzibar’s seaweed farming. Our analysis on the research question; what are the social impacts of Zanzibar’s seaweed farming? Fig.2 results indicate 83.7 percent of respondents agree that the sector observe the required working hours per week as required by the country labour law. It can be observed that the compliance on many sub-categories is high with an exception of occupational accidents (76.3%). The social impact was measured on the potential of Seaweed farming workers to exercise freedom of association. It was observed high (71.4%) presence of freedom of association of seaweed workers with moderate freedom to strike (58%) in Zanzibar. Child labor aspects are contained in both international and national laws. The assessment indicate low potential level (30%) of child labour and low level of forced labour practices (48.6%) in Zanzibar seaweed farming. 4.3 Impact on community The community category assesses stakeholder subcategories on local employment, safety, and healthy living conditions. Results showed the significance impact on employment, household income and living conditions. However, the complaints on low wages and market price of seaweed products informs policymakers to improve price structures of seaweed as an important economic activity in Zanzibar The seaweed farming in Zanzibar shows high potential on local employment (90.5%), indigenous rights (71.3%) and secure living conditions (82.5%) as it is one of the emerging blue economies contributing to sustainable development in Zanzibar 4.4 Economic impact According to the study conducted by Tijdens et al. (2014), the workers short of formal education or possessing only primary education earn an average of 833 TZS hourly, which results to more than 224,000 TZS monthly. As a result, these data were used to figure out the population mean for seaweed farmers. The sample income data from seaweed activities were obtained, which assisted in testing the hypothesis of the acquired sample data of 98 seaweed workers earning an average of 127,000 TZS with a standard variation of roughly 114,000 TZS. The a thousand (”000”) scale was used and since the sample size is large ( n ≥ 30) z-score distribution was deployed, the 90% confidence level was used. In this study, we aim to determine whether seaweed farming has a significant impact to the improvement of socio-economic living condition of the people in Zanzibar. The income of the people plays a crucial role in assessing their living standard (Sta´vkov´a et al., 2013). Thus, we want to determine whether the population mean µ is significantly different from a given value of 224. The test is motivated by a practical need to assess whether a key variable (income) in Zanzibar population differs from an established or expected standard. We are examining a population for which we have a sample of size ( n ) 98 seaweed workers, with a sample mean ( x ¯) of 127 and a sample standard deviation S of 114. Statistically, the fundamental question is whether this sample income mean differs considerably from the hypothesized population mean of 224. To answer this question, we use a statistical hypothesis testing method known as the z-score for a population mean. The hypothesis testing process involves two competing hypotheses: Null Hypothesis ( H 0 ): The population mean is equal to 224, that is µ = 224. This suggests that any observed difference in the sample is due to random sampling variation, not a true variation in the population. Alternative Hypothesis ( H A ): opposes the first hypothesis that, the population mean is not equal to 224, that is µ ̸ = 224. This implies that the observed difference between the sample mean and 224 is significant enough to conclude that the population mean is different from the provided. The chosen significance level is 10% (0.10), which reflects the researcher’s willingness to accept a 10% risk of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true (Type I error). This significance level is often used in exploratory research, where the cost of false positives may be lower, and researchers are more willing to take a risk. Since the sample size is plausible large ( n = 98), we assume that the sample distribution of the mean is normally distributed, which becomes desirable for the applying z-score test as follows; Following z-testing, we arrived at a test statistic of − 8 . 42. The sample mean of 127 deviates from the estimated population mean of 224 by this many standard deviations. The critical z-values in a two-tailed test with a significance level of 10% are ± 1 . 64, which specify the cutoff point for rejecting the null hypothesis as the figure below suggests. Since our test statistic of − 8 . 42 falls far outside this range (more negative than − 1 . 64), we reject the null hypothesis. This suggests that the difference between the sample mean and 224 is statistically significant. In practical terms, this means that the data provides strong evidence that the population mean is not equal to 224. 5.0 Conclusion and recommendations Seaweed farming contributes to new production system that ought to observe sustainability questions. SLCA presents new approaches for sustainability assessment in the East African context thus it becomes a novel methodology to in the region. This study conducted a social life cycle assessment of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Using the UNEP/SETAC guidelines Subcategory Assessment Method (SAM), the study found that working hours were a significant area needing improvement. Considering the importance of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, the sustainable production is paramount for the current needs without compromising future generations. The application of S-LCA serve as a tool for assessment sustainability pillars on social, economic and environment. The goal of the study was to assess the social, economic and environment impact of seaweed to stakeholder categories and subcategories. The study found among others, high presence of freedom of association of seaweed workers in Zanzibar. Whereas, child labor aspects are very low and therefore there low potential level of child labour and low level of forced labour practices in Zanzibar seaweed farming. Seaweed impact on community category assesses showed the significance impact on employment, household income and living conditions. However, the complaints on low wages and market price of seaweed products. The S-LCA approach increases our understanding of sustainability of products, services and interventions in development; that they should consider the three pillars of social- economic and environment. Moreover, the S-LCA framework informs policymakers to improve price structures of seaweed as an important economic activity in Zanzibar/p> Declarations We, the authors, consent and declare that we are the participants in the study "Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar "and agree to participate and publish References Alhaj, M., Tahir, F., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2022). Life-cycle environmental assessment of solar-driven Multi-Effect Desalination (MED) plant. Desalination , 524 (August 2021), 115451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2021.115451 Benoît-Norris, C., Vickery-Niederman, G., Valdivia, S., Franze, J., Traverso, M., Ciroth, A., & Mazijn, B. (2011). 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J., Lamtane, H. A., Hamed, S. S., Jiddawi, N. S., & Mapenzi, L. L. (2024). The contribution of milkfish (Chanos chanos) pond farming to socio-economics and coastal community livelihoods for a sustainable blue economy in Tanzania. Aquaculture International , 32 (4), 4915–4931. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-024-01408-4 Shimba, C., Magombola, D. A., & Ibrahim, S. (2021). Assessment of Seaweed Farming in Sustaining Household Livelihood in East Coast District, in Zanzibar, Tanzania. European Journal of Physical and Agricultural Sciences , 9 (1), 11–21. http://www.idpublications.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ Spalding, M. J. (2016). The New Blue Economy: the Future of Sustainability. Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics , 2 (2). https://doi.org/10.15351/2373-8456.1052 Suleiman, K. A., Haroonah, N., & Moh’d Hemed, I. (2023). Influence of Selected Resources of Blue Economy towards the Benefit of Fishers and Seaweed Growers of Paje Village in South District of Unguja. International Journal of Academic Reserach in Economics and Management Sciences , 12 (1). Traverso, M., & Valdivia, S. (2024). Introduction to the basics of life cycle sustainability assessment focusing on the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative LCSA framework. In Handbook on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (pp. 53–59). Edward Elgar Publishing. Ulega, A., Mgaya, Y., Lokina, R., & Mushy, R. (2023). The Contribution of Marine Fisheries to Socio-economic Development in Tanzania Mainland: Reflections on the Blue Economy Concept from Selected Coastal Villages. Journal of the Geographical Association of Tanzania , 42 (2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.56279/jgat.v42i2.229 van Haaster, B., Ciroth, A., Fontes, J., Wood, R., & Ramirez, A. (2017). Development of a methodological framework for social life-cycle assessment of novel technologies. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment , 22 , 423–440. Wu, R., Yang, D., & Chen, J. (2014). Social life cycle assessment revisited. Sustainability (Switzerland) , 6 (7), 4200–4226. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6074200 Wulf, C., Werker, J., Ball, C., Zapp, P., & Kuckshinrichs, W. (2019). Review of sustainability assessment approaches based on life cycles. Sustainability (Switzerland) , 11 (20). https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205717 Zakayo, E., & Mbilinyi, R. (2023). Assessment of the potentials of the blue economy resources for poverty reduction in Tanzania. Journal of Marine Science and Technology , 1 (1), 1–6. Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6556099","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":453264395,"identity":"ae916b06-faba-4bcf-bc3f-2f03c4620865","order_by":0,"name":"Yusuph Rashid","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABFElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACxgYQycNwgMfABsRiI0lLGpIWfDphWoDoMGEtBjfSn0kX7mDI5+8/e/DAm4Lz0fIzstMefGCwk2eQb3+AXUuOmfTMMwyWM27kJRycY3A7t3FG7nbDGQzJhg1sDAk4tLBJ87YxGDDc4DE4zAPU0iyRu02ah4E5AeiwAzgdBtIif/4MSMu53DaQlj8M9UAtED9iakkwA2sxOJAD0nIgtwekhYHhMFALM1bvS555Y2w9s03CwPBGjgHQL8m5M3jebjfsMThu2MaWhlUL3/H0h7cL22wM5M6fMf7w5o9d7vz23G0PflRUy/MzH8caYgpAHwLtl8BwMO6YlG8AaxkFo2AUjIJRgAcAAMquXcK/50XvAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Mzumbe University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yusuph","middleName":"","lastName":"Rashid","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-04-29 11:40:38","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":true,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true,"humanSubjectConsent":true,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6556099/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6556099/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":82221412,"identity":"16d094e5-c936-486f-8d79-7afd8d22bec2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-08 02:38:04","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":22108,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEconomic Importance of Seaweed in Zanzibar 2019-2021\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSource 1: Office of the Chief Statistician, Zanzibar 2021\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6556099/v1/7bb495adcb6a1d008d991358.png"},{"id":82221415,"identity":"6f24cc45-c2b8-439e-80a7-86382f778b90","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-08 02:38:05","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":103638,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFigure 1: UNEP/SATAC S-LCA Methodological Procedures for Seaweed\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6556099/v1/d6dc2adbef276a40ca2a57ba.png"},{"id":82221414,"identity":"732f0032-81f8-4396-b13c-4edddc54f769","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-08 02:38:04","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":257323,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFigure 2: Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed farming production\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6556099/v1/be4d2f4bfd7aea8ed58e1333.png"},{"id":82221416,"identity":"2a1e975d-ec0b-4cd3-9d3e-e11c1fe9b3dd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-08 02:38:05","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":309281,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFigure 3: Seaweed Impact on Community\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6556099/v1/937e698afba2a4096b6c1dd0.png"},{"id":82221413,"identity":"49f1ff1f-ba58-457d-87be-4809490c7f0e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-08 02:38:04","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":152722,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFigure 1: A normal Z-Score distribution with rejection region of two tail \u003cem\u003eα/\u003c/em\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6556099/v1/92d040b121fbdb67e61bb8e7.png"},{"id":82221987,"identity":"75390bd3-d7a0-4c14-a932-c4e5cc195f87","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-08 02:46:05","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1507865,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6556099/v1/93c9c8ba-ca48-4b9c-a32e-7fed01fe3b23.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar","fulltext":[{"header":" 1.0 \tIntroduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eSocial Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is a methodological framework emerged in the 1990s \u0026nbsp;extending from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). While LCA focuses on environmental and economic life cycle assessment (Collins et al., 2022) that have predominated the academic literature and project or programme impact assessments, SLCA considers \u0026nbsp;three pillars of sustainability including social, economic and environment impact (van Haaster et al., 2017). (Dreyer et al., 2006) argue that in order to enhance the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a tool in business decision-making, social life cycle assessment is used to facilitate companies to conduct business in a socially responsible manner by providing information about the potential social impacts on people caused by the activities in life cycle of their product. The S-LCA is developed to guide businesses and organizations to have responsibility to the people affected by their business activities while they should remain economically viable to compete in the market as well as make profit in order to survive. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study illustrates the application of SLCA in a seaweed farming case study in Zanzibar as one of the Blue economic interventions (Suleiman et al., 2023). Blue Economy (BE) as a development framework depicts life below water covering the ocean economy for countries endowed with marine resources (Lee et al., 2020). It originated from the 2012 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Eikeset et al., 2018); whereby scholars refer to the ocean economy or marine economy interchangeably (Lee et al., 2020; Spalding, 2016). The BE was further conceived by the African Union in the \u0026nbsp;2050 Africa\u0026rsquo;s Integrated Maritime Strategy that recognizes the vast maritime potential for wealth creation in the Sub-Saharan Africa (Benzaken, 2016; Negm, 2022). In the context of Zanzibar and Tanzania at large, Blue Economy has been practiced since time in memorial including among others, marine fisheries, coastal tourism, ocean transportation, seaweed farming largely in the Indian Ocean (Shalli et al., 2024; Shimba et al., 2021; Ulega et al., 2023). However, it is an emerging concept in scholarly work as well as in policy development framework (Zakayo \u0026amp; Mbilinyi, 2023). \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe development of commercial seaweed farming in Zanzibar can be traced in Paje and Jambiani villages on the East Coast of Zanzibar producing \u0026ldquo;Eucheuma in the 1970s, followed by denticulatum, Kappaphycus in the early 1980s (Msuya et al., 2016). The importance of Seaweed farming in Zanzibar has been increasing with a production of 13,000 tons (Msuya, 1989). Seaweed farming has now become an important farming activity contributing significantly to the economy of Zanzibar (Burra, 2023). It is the third revenue earner, creating employment \u0026nbsp;and improving livelihoods, especially to women (Makame, 2022), representing one of strategic productive sectors for sustainable development in Zanzibar with huge economic importance. This is also observed in (Hamad \u0026amp; Islam, 2022) study that seaweed farming is a Blue economy activity taking place along the coastal areas of the Indian ocean providing alternative livelihood sources for small-scale coastal fishing communities, mainly to about 80% of the women who are engaged in seaweed farming. This sector is one of the dependable large export businesses, providing employment to more than 25,000 people, with 90 percent of \u0026nbsp; them being women (Hafidh \u0026amp; Soud, 2024; Msafiri, 2021).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, seaweed farming in Zanzibar is constrained on sustainability concerns with its inability to meet the current needs without comprising the future generation, which is assessed on three sustainability pillars of social, economic and environment. Given the economic important of seaweed in Zanzibar, sustainability assessment using the Social Life Cycle Assessment dimensions is applied to examine its applicability and assess the potential impact of seaweed sector to Zanzibar. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study employs Social-Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) framework to explore potential impacts on social well-being resulting from implementation of Seaweed farming and product processing. The potential social, economic and environmental impact of the seaweed farming in Zanzibar uses a developed analytical tool for assessing the potential social, economic and environmental impact of production processes, products and activities (Finkbeiner et al., 2010). Our conceptualization of S-LCA is that seaweed farming is a cradle-to-gate assessment from farm to factory production, which is a partial product life cycle from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate of the seaweed products.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.2 Statement of Problem\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeaweed\u0026nbsp;farming\u0026nbsp;involves\u0026nbsp;sustainable\u0026nbsp;production of\u0026nbsp;marine\u0026nbsp;resources\u0026nbsp;from farm\u0026nbsp;to factory for processing. It involves multiple stakeholders including small-holder farmers and community engaged in this economic activity.\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;seaweed farming use production and processing technologies with potential effect to natural resource and environmental degradation as well as stakeholders. Some studies describe sea weed harvesting and processing associating with a range of occupational hazards and associated health problems (Ngajilo et al., 2024). However, there is insufficient information on the social, economic and environmental impact of the seaweed farming in Zanzibar.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.4 Objectives and scope\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u0026nbsp;study\u0026nbsp;mainly aims at\u0026nbsp;assessing\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;potential\u0026nbsp;social,\u0026nbsp;economic and environmental impact of s seaweed farming in Zanzibar.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.4.1 Specific objectives:\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study targeted on the assessment of seaweed farming on the social life cycle assessment framework Specifically the objective was to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col class=\"decimal_type\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAnalyze the\u0026nbsp;social impact of seaweed\u0026nbsp;farming\u0026nbsp;in Zanzibar\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eExamine the\u0026nbsp;economic impact of seaweed\u0026nbsp;farming\u0026nbsp;in Zanzibar\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eExamine the\u0026nbsp;environmental impact of seaweed\u0026nbsp;farming\u0026nbsp;in Zanzibar\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAssess\u0026nbsp;sustainability of Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed\u0026nbsp;farming in Zanzibar.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.5 Research questions\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003col class=\"decimal_type\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWhat are the social impacts of Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed farming?\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWhat are the economic impacts of Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed farming?\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHow does Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed farming impact communities?\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWhat UNEP/SETAC guidelines address S-LCA in Seaweed farming in Tanzania?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.6 Research Hypothesis\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe following hypothesis is used in this study testing the socio-economic standard of the seaweed community in the Zanzibar Island.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH\u003csub\u003e0\u003c/sub\u003e: Seaweed farming has no significant impact on socio-economic living standards of the people of Zanzibar\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e: Seaweed farming has significant impact on socio-economic living standards of the people of Zanzibar\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":" 2.0 \tLiterature review","content":"\u003cp\u003eSocial-Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is one of robust methodologies for holistic assessment of\u0026nbsp;potential\u0026nbsp;social,\u0026nbsp;economic\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;environmental\u0026nbsp;impacts\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;technologies,\u0026nbsp;products\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;intervention (Wu et al., 2014). The S-LCA adopt UNEP-SETAC guidelines (Traverso \u0026amp; Valdivia, 2024) as a framework of analysis begins\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;defining\u0026nbsp;goal\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;scope,\u0026nbsp;inventory\u0026nbsp;analysis,\u0026nbsp;and then\u0026nbsp;optionally\u0026nbsp;continues to quantitative impact assessment, and it ends with the interpretation (Wulf et al., 2019). S-LCA is also a method\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;assess\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;environmental\u0026nbsp;performance\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;various\u0026nbsp;production\u0026nbsp;systems,\u0026nbsp;product\u0026nbsp;environmental footprints to promote sustainability (Curran, 2012). S-LCA is also used to\u0026nbsp;evaluate environmental impacts related to changes in industrialization technology use,\u0026nbsp;resource availability and net productivity and in natural carbon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the Social Life Cycle assessment is a widely-used method to examine the environmental impact caused by industrial production of products, it is used to assess Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed farming in relation to potential social, economic and environmental impact that requires ISO 14040 and 14043 standards for Seaweed farming (Serenella Sala et al., 2015). These standards rely on a combination of standards outline requirements associated with the three pillars of sustainability. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe global development frameworks are concerned with extents of social impacts of production, consumption and economic systems in ways such as child labour, safety working, living conditions, employment, and dignified wages. The Sustainable Development Goals framework guides countries on specific development policies and pathways to address the socio-economic and environmental concerns and the need to ensure their sustainability. In this context, S-LCA method has become an important and relevant techniques for sustainability assessment provided in the UNEP/SETAC (M\u0026aacute;rmol et al., 2023). The use of UNEP/SETAC sustainability assessment criteria depends on the selected indicators that adequately measure relevant sustainability outcomes. These include S-LCA sub-categories in Seaweed farming socio-economic and environmental impact and ecosystem management outcomes (e.g., fostering local employment, promoting economic growth, conserving natural resources, sequestering carbon, and maintaining ecosystems). The S-LCA offers a systematic approach for sustainability impact assessment categories \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; using the ISO 14040 standards which defines the four major phases of S-LCA including goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and result interpretation (Alhaj et al., 2022).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of a S-LCA is to provide information on social issues for decision-making and to help inform incremental improvements. The S-LCA approach is used to evaluate the social impacts of a product as published in 2009 by the UNEP\u0026ndash;SETAC with its Life Cycle Initiative and extensive \u0026ldquo;Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products\u0026rdquo;(Traverso \u0026amp; Valdivia, 2024). The UNEP\u0026ndash;SETAC guidelines specify 31 relevant subcategories as core elements of the methodology, which are described to five important stakeholder groups of a S-LCA of workers, local community, society, consumers and value chain actors (Lobsiger-K\u0026auml;gi et al., 2018). \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe United Nations Environment Program/Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (UNEP-SETAC) Life Cycle offers the \u0026nbsp;S-LCA methodology and guidelines consisting of four interconnected phases, namely; goal and scope; inventory analysis; impact assessment; and interpretation (Beno\u0026icirc;t-Norris et al., 2011; Corona et al., 2017; SETAC, 2020). This study adopted UNEP-SETAC guidelines for social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) of seaweed cradle to gate assessment in Zanzibar. We considered the four phases: Goal and Scope, Life Cycle Inventory, Life Cycle Impact Assessment and Interpretation (UNEP, 2009) (Fig. 1).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe definition of the goal and scope of any SLCA study is very important for understanding the social, economic and environmental impact. We used the UNEP\u0026ndash;SETAC guidelines for the Goal and Scope definition phase. The goal of our study was to assess the social, economic and environment impact of seaweed cradle to gate to all stakeholder categories and subcategories.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":" 3.0\tMETHODOLOGY","content":"\u003ch2\u003e3.1 Introduction\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe segments covered in this chapter include; research design, study area, targeted study population, analysis of inquiry, measurement of variables, size of sample and sampling techniques, source of data, data collection techniques, validity issues, and test of reliability as well as the methods of data analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"_Toc142025581\"\u003e3.2 Area of the Study\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"_Toc39766829\"\u003eThis study was conducted in Zanzibar Island regions with extensive seaweed farming, these include North, South, and Urban West regions. The selection of this location based on the activity being intensively and extensively implemented in marine based farming.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"_Toc142025582\"\u003e3.3 Research Design \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA case study research design was used because it the study gathered specific information about the specific seaweed farming for specific area. This method is used to investigate the effects of a particular phenomenon and describe the nature of the situation as it existed at the time of the study (Kothari, 2004). The case design enabled the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of the seaweed farming through interaction with key informants as sources of knowledge to meet goals of this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"_Toc142025583\"\u003e3.4 Target population\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"_Toc142025584\"\u003eThe target population were the farmers, communities and stakeholders engaged in seaweed farming. A total of 8,664 seaweed stakeholders of which 8054 were women and 610 were men. These people are scattered in 3 regions and a total of 50 villages involved which necessitate the need for sampling to be applied.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"_Toc142025585\"\u003e3.5.1 Sample size\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sample of 97 participants were selected representing the region\u0026apos;s farmers, factory workers, as well as the community stakeholders, while two respondents were the policy administrators from Zanzibar Seaweed Company (ZASCO). The sample size for the study was determined by using a simplified \u0026nbsp;Yamane 1997 formula, taking into account the above-mentioned target population size:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" height=\"70\" width=\"176\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen n is the sample size, N denotes the population size, and e denotes the level of confidence. For the purposes of establishing sample size in this investigation, the 10% margin of error were used under 90% confidence level. Thus, the sample size obtained as;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" width=\"517\" height=\"58\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e3.5.2 Sampling techniques\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA\u0026nbsp;purposeful\u0026nbsp;sampling was also used for\u0026nbsp;selecting areas with intensified and well-developed seaweed farming that provided rich information. Zanzibar in this case was selected\u0026nbsp;for having concentrated farming and some processing factory. Moreover, this kind of sampling was done with one more criterion focusing on the extent of production and number of villages involved in the seaweed farming in each region. The three regions of interest had five districts involved in the products where three districts purposively selected for the study. From each of the 3 districts sampled, three intensive seaweed cultivating villages purposively selected for the study as indicated in Table 1. A sample of 99 representatives was obtained through the probability random sampling technique.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 1: Sampled districts and villages\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistrict\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVillage\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNumber Of Participants\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSouth\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCentral\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUzi\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNg\u0026rsquo;ambwa\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBungi\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNorth(U)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNorth A\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePwani Mchangani\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKidoti\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKigunda\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSouth\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSouth\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePaje\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJambiani Kibigija\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 168px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMakunduchi Kajengwa\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 156px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSource:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eResearch Field (2024)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"_Toc142025587\"\u003e3.7 Data collection and Methods\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA survey was conducted to seaweed farmers in Zanzibar North, South and Central districts where there are many farmer groups engaged in seaweed farming. Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained throughout the research period in which through the assessment of social impacts, the S-LCA criteria were used to develop the research tool for data collection. The S-LCA is adopted from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-SETAC) through its guideline for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Product (Traverso \u0026amp; Valdivia, 2024). \u0026nbsp;Researchers used Kobo toolbox collect to gather data which acted as a digital research tool for data collection.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"_Toc142025593\"\u003e3.8 Data Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData analysis included cleaning of the data for accuracy, python coding through Jupyter Notebook software, descriptive analysis and testing of \u0026nbsp;hypotheses. The accuracy of the supplied data was verified. \u0026nbsp;Using UNEP-SETAC guideline, two main categories were involved in the study analysis (workers, and community), with sub-categories and indicators chosen on the basis of their relevance to seaweed farming. The analysis of these subcategories was normalized using five Likert scale showing the level of impacts in each category described as very high, high, medium, low, and very low. These impacts indicator presented graphically as python coding using speedometer graphs, this analysis adopted the study of Giuliana \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e (2024). \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scale variable scores were averaged after internal consistency validation of the scale variables to provide mean scores for each respondent per scale parameter measurement. These levels were sub-divided into five % range in 100% where the range predefined as x and distributed in the manner \u003cimg width=\"48\" height=\"19\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" alt=\"image\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;(Very high), \u003cimg width=\"86\" height=\"19\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" alt=\"image\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;(High), \u003cimg width=\"86\" height=\"19\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" alt=\"image\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;(Medium), \u003cimg width=\"86\" height=\"19\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" alt=\"image\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;(Low), \u003cimg width=\"48\" height=\"19\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" alt=\"image\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;(Very low). For the tested hypothesis, the income data were collected and used for the test, Z-score distribution was done due to the nature of the sample study.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4.0 UNEP / SETAC analysis","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe apply UNEP / SETAC to examine the social life cycle assessment of\u0026nbsp;seaweed farming and processing on categories of producers, workers, distributors,\u0026nbsp;consumers and society. Different subcategories and social indicators were described as the potential positive or negative social impacts on related\u0026nbsp;stakeholders within life cycle stages. The UNEP/SETAC framework for the Social Life Cycle\u0026nbsp;Assessment of product value chains enabled to identify the main social\u0026nbsp;impact\u0026nbsp;indicators on\u0026nbsp;categories and sub-categories defined in the UNEP/SETAC (Beno\u0026icirc;t-Norris et al., 2011; Martucci et al., 2019; SETAC, 2020).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.1 Goal and Scope definition\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe definition of the goal and scope of any S-LCA study is very important for understanding the social, economic and environmental impact. We used the UNEP\u0026ndash;SETAC guidelines for the Goal and Scope definition phase. The goal of our study was to assess the social, economic and environment impact of seaweed cradle to gate to all stakeholder categories and subcategories. Goal and scope definition in LCA study is defined as clearly and unambiguously as possible. The goal of the LCA deal with the intended application, the reasons for carrying out the study, intended audience, whether the results are to be used in comparative assertions disclosed to the public, whereas, the scope definition further sets the main outline on a number of subjects that are discussed in more details including \u0026ldquo;system boundaries, impact categories and treatment of uncertainty\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;(Curran, 2012; Huertas-Valdivia et al., 2020; Sala et al., 2016). The\u0026nbsp;scope\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;study was\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;capture relevant\u0026nbsp;information from\u0026nbsp;the implementation\u0026nbsp;of a socio-economic development intervention.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.2 Social Impact Analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis adopted gate-to-gate life cycle assessment approach for analyzing the social, economic and environmental impact of Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed farming. Our analysis on the research question; what are the social impacts of Zanzibar\u0026rsquo;s seaweed farming? Fig.2 results indicate 83.7 percent of respondents agree that the sector observe the required working hours per week as required by the country labour law. It can be observed that the compliance on many sub-categories is high with an exception of occupational accidents (76.3%).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe social impact was measured on the potential of Seaweed farming workers to exercise freedom of association. It was observed high (71.4%) presence of freedom of association of seaweed workers with moderate freedom to strike (58%) in Zanzibar. \u0026nbsp; Child labor aspects are contained in both international and national laws. The assessment indicate low potential level (30%) of child labour and low level of forced labour practices (48.6%) in Zanzibar seaweed farming.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.3 Impact on community\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe community category assesses stakeholder subcategories on local employment, safety, and healthy living conditions. Results showed the significance impact on employment, household income and living conditions. However, the complaints on low wages and market price of seaweed products informs policymakers to improve price structures of seaweed as an important economic activity in Zanzibar\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe seaweed farming in Zanzibar shows high potential on local employment (90.5%), indigenous rights (71.3%) and secure living conditions (82.5%) as it is one of the emerging blue economies contributing to sustainable development in Zanzibar\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.4 Economic impact\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to the study conducted by Tijdens et al. (2014), the workers short of formal education or possessing only primary education earn an average of 833 TZS hourly, which results to more than 224,000 TZS monthly. As a result, these data were used to figure out the population mean for seaweed farmers. The sample income data from seaweed activities were obtained, which assisted in testing the hypothesis of the acquired sample data of 98 seaweed workers earning an average of 127,000 TZS with a standard variation of roughly 114,000 TZS. The a thousand (\u0026rdquo;000\u0026rdquo;) scale was used and since the sample size is large (\u003cem\u003en\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e30) z-score distribution was deployed, the 90% confidence level was used.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, we aim to determine whether seaweed farming has a significant impact to the improvement of socio-economic living condition of the people in Zanzibar. The income of the people plays a crucial role in assessing their living standard\u0026nbsp;(Sta\u0026acute;vkov\u0026acute;a\u0026nbsp;et al., 2013). Thus, we want to determine whether the population mean \u003cem\u003e\u0026micro;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eis significantly different from a given value of 224. The test is motivated by a practical need to assess whether a key variable (income) in Zanzibar population differs from an established or expected standard. We are examining a population for which we have a sample of size (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e) 98 seaweed workers, with a sample mean (\u003cem\u003ex\u003c/em\u003e\u0026macr;)\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;127\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;sample\u0026nbsp;standard\u0026nbsp;deviation\u0026nbsp;\u003cem\u003eS\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eof\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e114.\u0026nbsp;Statistically, the fundamental question is whether this sample income mean differs considerably\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;hypothesized\u0026nbsp;population\u0026nbsp;mean\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;224.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo\u0026nbsp;answer\u0026nbsp;this\u0026nbsp;question,\u0026nbsp;we\u0026nbsp;use\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;statistical\u0026nbsp;hypothesis\u0026nbsp;testing\u0026nbsp;method\u0026nbsp;known\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;the z-score for a population mean.\u0026nbsp;The hypothesis testing process involves two competing hypotheses:\u0026nbsp;Null Hypothesis (\u003cem\u003eH\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e0\u003c/sub\u003e):\u0026nbsp;The population mean is equal to 224, that is \u003cem\u003e\u0026micro;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e=\u0026nbsp;224. This suggests that any observed difference in the sample is due to random sampling variation, not a true variation in the population.\u0026nbsp;Alternative Hypothesis (\u003cem\u003eH\u003csub\u003eA\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/em\u003e):\u0026nbsp;opposes the first hypothesis that, the population mean is not equal to 224, that is \u003cem\u003e\u0026micro; ̸\u003c/em\u003e= 224.\u0026nbsp;This implies\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;observed\u0026nbsp;difference\u0026nbsp;between\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;sample\u0026nbsp;mean\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;224\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;significant\u0026nbsp;enough to conclude that the population mean is different from the provided.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u0026nbsp;chosen\u0026nbsp;significance\u0026nbsp;level\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;10%\u0026nbsp;(0.10),\u0026nbsp;which\u0026nbsp;reflects\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;researcher\u0026rsquo;s\u0026nbsp;willingness\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;accept\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;10%\u0026nbsp;risk\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;rejecting\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;null\u0026nbsp;hypothesis\u0026nbsp;when\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;actually\u0026nbsp;true\u0026nbsp;(Type I error).\u0026nbsp;This significance level is often used in exploratory research, where the cost of false positives\u0026nbsp;may\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;lower,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;researchers\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;more\u0026nbsp;willing\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;take\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;risk. Since the sample size is plausible large (\u003cem\u003en\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e= 98), we assume that the sample distribution of the mean is normally distributed, which becomes desirable for the applying z-score test as follows;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" width=\"394\" height=\"138\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing z-testing, we arrived at a test statistic of \u003cem\u003e\u0026minus;\u003c/em\u003e8\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e42. The sample mean of 127 deviates from the estimated population mean of 224 by this many standard deviations. The critical z-values in a two-tailed test with a significance level of 10% are \u003cem\u003e\u0026plusmn;\u003c/em\u003e1\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e64, which specify the cutoff point for rejecting the null hypothesis as the figure below suggests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince\u0026nbsp;our\u0026nbsp;test\u0026nbsp;statistic\u0026nbsp;of \u003cem\u003e\u0026minus;\u003c/em\u003e8\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e42\u0026nbsp;falls\u0026nbsp;far\u0026nbsp;outside\u0026nbsp;this\u0026nbsp;range\u0026nbsp;(more\u0026nbsp;negative\u0026nbsp;than \u003cem\u003e\u0026minus;\u003c/em\u003e1\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e64), we reject the null hypothesis. This suggests that the difference between the sample mean and 224 is statistically significant. In practical terms, this means that the data provides strong evidence that the population mean is not equal to 224.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":" 5.0\t Conclusion and recommendations","content":"\u003cp\u003eSeaweed farming contributes to new production system that ought to observe sustainability questions. SLCA presents new approaches for sustainability assessment in the East African context thus it becomes a novel methodology to in the region. This study conducted a social life cycle assessment of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Using the UNEP/SETAC guidelines Subcategory Assessment Method (SAM), the study found that working hours were a significant area needing improvement. Considering the importance of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, the sustainable production is paramount for the current needs without compromising future generations. The application of S-LCA serve as a tool for assessment sustainability pillars on social, economic and environment.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe goal of the study was to assess the social, economic and environment impact of seaweed to stakeholder categories and subcategories. The study found among others, high presence of freedom of association of seaweed workers in Zanzibar. Whereas, child labor aspects are very low and therefore there low potential level of child labour and low level of forced labour practices in Zanzibar seaweed farming.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeaweed impact on community category assesses showed the significance impact on employment, household income and living conditions. However, the complaints on low wages and market price of seaweed products.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe S-LCA approach increases our understanding of sustainability of products, services and interventions in development; that they should consider the three pillars of social- economic and environment. Moreover, the S-LCA framework informs policymakers to improve price structures of seaweed as an important economic activity in Zanzibar/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe, the authors, consent and declare that we are the participants in the study \u0026quot;Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar \u0026quot;and agree to participate and publish\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAlhaj, M., Tahir, F., \u0026amp; Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2022). 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Assessment of the potentials of the blue economy resources for poverty reduction in Tanzania. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Marine Science and Technology\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e1\u003c/em\u003e(1), 1\u0026ndash;6.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Mzumbe University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Seaweed, Blue Economy policy, SLCA, Sustainability","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6556099/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6556099/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSocial life cycle assessment (SCLA) is an emerging framework for sustainability assessment of processes, companies and products throughout their life cycle that is popularly known in the Global North. Seaweed farming is one of blue economy which is seen as a contributor to sustainable development in Zanzibar. This study examines the social life cycle assessment (SLCA) of seaweed farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania in accordance to the UNEP sustainability assessment. The objective is to assess the potential social impact of seaweed farming. The study identifies the stakeholder categories and sub-categories whose positive impact is more pronounced on community stakeholders. The system boundaries of the study include all phases from cradle-to-gate, i.e. from on-farm to production of seaweed products. Two stakeholder groups were considered (workers and local communities) as those that better represent the seaweed farming. The analysis carried out on the functional unit of the study allowed assessing social impact of the process and product.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe application of Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) to Seaweed farming in Zanzibar, Tanzania adopts the UNEP Social Life Cycle Assessment guidelines. The study objective is to assess the potential social, economic and environmental impact of seaweed farming. The study identifies the positive impacts on community stakeholders. The system boundaries of the study include all phases from cradle-to-gate, i.e. from on-farm to production of seaweed products. Two stakeholder groups were considered (workers and local communities) as those that better represent the seaweed farming. The analysis carried out on the functional unit of the study allowed assessing social impact of the process and product. Seaweed farming contributes to new production system that ought to observe sustainability questions. SLCA presents new approaches for sustainability assessment in the East African context thus it becomes a novel methodology to in the region.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe study results contribute to scholarly work on S-LCA as a methodological tool to inform business decisions, assessing social impact of products on stakeholders and therefore inform policy decisions. Seaweed farming is of the strategic productive sector in Zanzibar as it contributes to employment and economic growth. This sector is projected to increase production and employment through the established manufacturing farming. One of the methods for assessing sustainability of production is the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) technique, which assesses the potential social, economic and environmental impact which is valuable to inform policy decisions.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Social Life Cycle Assessment of Seaweed Farming to Achieve Sustainability of Blue Economy in Zanzibar","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-05-08 02:38:00","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6556099/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"55dd3d21-3432-4afb-865d-6c8e815501a3","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 8th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":48201996,"name":"Other Public Policy"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-05-08T02:38:00+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-05-08 02:38:00","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6556099","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6556099","identity":"rs-6556099","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}