D8.3. First insights on social acceptance

The main purpose of this deliverable is to report the first insights on the social acceptance as result of stakeholder interviews and survey questionnaire, and a workshop. In-dept analysis of these results will be reported by M44.
SAVONIA started the social acceptance context identification work with a series of interviews and small group discussions with the companies, stakeholders, target groups and experts, which were reported, as part of D8.1 in February 2020. In collaboration with Murcia (Spain) and Kalundborg (Denmark) municipalities, a survey questionnaire on social acceptance and S-LCA has been developed. Answers have been collected, and data analysed and managed according to the European GDPR legislation and ethical requirements as agreed on VALUEWASTE Protection of Personal Data (POPD) D11.2 and Human (H) participation (D11.4).
The social acceptance study has connections on the social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) in WP6, which studies social impacts of the VALUEWASTE value chains. The S-LCA is comprised of different stakeholders, subcategories, and social indicators. One of these stakeholders is “consumers”. This stakeholder comprises different subcategories like health and safety, privacy, and feedback mechanisms. Within the last subcategory (feedback mechanisms), consumers’ acceptance is a social indicator. In this way, the survey performed on WP8 forms part of the S-LCA carried out in WP6, completing the synergy between both WPs. We have identified and formulated the study scope and questions, and analysed questions which are common to both approaches.
First insights of social acceptance are satisfactory. Insights on barriers, opportunities and challenges have been collected from stakeholder and expert interviews, survey questionnaires both at Murcia and Kalundborg municipalities, and from a workshop on Social Acceptance and S-LCA, which applied portfolio techniques for joint future scenario insights. The respondent number is lower than expected, but it gives good basis for qualitative analysis. Kalundborg and Murcia, and the industry partners have actively participated into the survey content development and realisation, with language editions before launch, and CETENMA has brought S-LCA insights, as well as evaluated and given feedback to improve the report.
The preliminary survey results indicate that the citizens are aware of environmental concerns and think they are important. The acceptance of feed protein, and recycled plant nutrients is expected to be high when they are made available to the market. However, we need in-depth analysis on the aspects affecting vital behaviour of citizens and potential customers. Also, the need for information is raised, and will be tackled during the next steps of the VALUEWASTE project.