What LCA Data Really Is
- Datasets are built from measured elementary flows: what a process takes from nature and what it emits back.
- New LCA data is not scraped from the web and not generated by machine learning. It rests on measured reality.
Why Databases Feel Complex
- Large databases stack up like a pyramid of processes. A product sits on top of many upstream steps: materials, energy, transport, equipment, and more. You do not need to master the whole pyramid to use it, but it explains why there are only a few general databases.
Ecoinvent
- Proprietary database founded by Swiss research institutions and maintained by the Ecoinvent Association.
- Known for transparency in the data hierarchy, which lets specialists modify datasets to reflect real conditions.
- Geography matters. Datasets often use a region’s electricity mix. If your process uses a different power source, impacts can shift, so practitioners sometimes replace parts of a dataset when they have better data.
- This level of editing is not possible with aggregated databases.
European Footprint Database
- Created by the EU to make LCA data freely available as LCAs move into regulation.
- Based on existing databases, including Ecoinvent, Sphera, and others.
- It is aggregated, so you cannot fully trace dataset origins or edit them in detail, but access is free.
Databases At a Glance📊
| Database | Access | Structure | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecoinvent | Proprietary | Transparent hierarchy | Inspect and edit parts of datasets; reflect geography like electricity mix |
| European Footprint | Free | Aggregated | Use official, accessible data; limited drill down and no detailed editing |
Key Takeaways for Beginners
- Results rest on measured flows.
- Location and system choices can change outcomes.
- Transparent databases allow fine tuning; aggregated ones trade detail for access.