Life cycle sustainability assessment of crude oil in India

Integrating sustainability into the process of the supply chain is a paramount challenge for every industry aiming to thrive or survive in this ever-changing world. Sustainability is more relevant for the oil industries because oil is one of the leading sources of energy in India. The demand for fuels is increasing at a fast rate even though it is one of the non-renewable resources. The main focus of this study is to carry out the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) of the crude oil in India and to assess its performance from well-to-tank, i.e., from the extraction of crude oil till the dispatch of finished fuel from storage. The LCSA is considered to be an appropriate tool for accessing the three aspects of sustainability which are environment, economic, and social. According to the study, the majority of emissions are from the oil refining phase and transportation phase. For performing the Life Cycle Costing (LCC) a new economic method has been developed for this study. As far as the social aspect is concerned, it was found that the industries have established a strong relationship with their stakeholders but there is the scope of improvement in various subcategories. An integrated framework model for LCSA of crude oil is presented based on the outcomes of this study. Sustainability measures are also suggested which can lead to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.