Science communication and social LCA: can the twain meet? Initial findings from an Oatly study

This contribution aims to propose a possible integration of science communication, which recognizes three modes of interaction (the deficit, dialogue and participation models) between experts and non-experts to the field of social LCA. The purpose of such an integration stems from the understanding that through the product chain, there are a wide variety of actors that enable the material product to "flow" and that are working with scientific and sustainability-relevant information. We first discuss the key arguments that evolved in science communication debates from one-way communication of scientific knowledge to public to recent discussions on democratizing science and involving the public in the formative stages of science and technology. We then propose reasons why it could be worthwhile to combine these arguments in the growing literature on social LCA. We use Oatly, the Swedish oat drink company, and the types of communication in its product chain, as the case study to argue the relevance of science communication scholarly frameworks in social LCA.