Challenges and Opportunities in S-LCA for Compliance Driven Innovation

As regulations such as CSRD and SSbD increasingly shape innovation, conventional S-LCA methods fall short when applied to early-stage technologies. This study explores these challenges and presents a justiceoriented, participatory S-LCA framework designed for compliance in uncertain, low-TRL settings. By integrating social theories and bottom-up stakeholder prioritisation, the approach transforms S-LCA into a proactive compliance tool. The method is tested on a smart textile prototype, revealing how ethical design can align with regulatory demands, especially when stakeholder inclusion is placed at the centre