Abstract
Purpose
Building a global Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database from scratch with a harmonized method and wide process coverage would require significant resources. Therefore, it is worth examining to what extent existing LCI datasets can be adapted to form the basis of a more common database. This study examines the opportunities and challenges of transforming the existing US Life Cycle Inventory (US LCI) database to meet the intrinsic (e.g., assumptions, methods, completeness) and extrinsic (e.g., data format) requirements of ecoinvent 3.
Methods
Nineteen US LCI datasets were selected for transformation. Datasets were first converted in batch from EcoSpold 1 to EcoSpold 2 format using an automated tool based on a Python script. Other changes necessary to conform to ecoinvent standards were made manually, such as changing activity and flow names, mapping dummy exchanges, and creating global reference datasets. To address data gaps and other data quality issues, each dataset was assessed against ecoinvent 3 data quality guidelines and missing information was noted. When available, public reports for the US LCI datasets were examined to fill in data gaps. Datasets were also compared against similar processes in ecoinvent to see if there were any significant flows omitted; missing flows were filled by using estimates for these exchanges from similar processes already within ecoinvent.
Results and discussion
The automated tool for data exchange format conversion saved time and reduced the potential for error. Even so, a nontrivial amount of time and research was spent on the manual changes needed to conform to ecoinvent standards. Addressing data gaps and other data quality issues also required considerable effort. In general, US LCI datasets were missing the following data required by ecoinvent 3: land use, water, and infrastructure exchanges; production volumes; uncertainty and data quality information; and adequate documentation of system boundaries, methodology, and process technology. Much of this missing data could be filled by examining available reports, using ecoinvent data as proxies, or conducting independent research. However, in some cases, such as for water data, adequate estimates could not be determined based on readily available materials.
Conclusions
This case study showed that it is possible to incorporate existing regional datasets into ecoinvent version 3, but significant resources may be required to restructure the datasets and fill data gaps. While this study focused on the US LCI and ecoinvent databases, its lessons can be applied to any inter-database conversion. In particular, new national LCI database initiatives should consider compatibility with established databases such as ecoinvent when designing the database framework, standards and guidelines.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) (2011) The greenhouse gases, regulated emissions, and energy use in transportation model (GREET). http://greet.es.anl.gov/. Accessed 28 Feb 2012
Bauer C, Buchgeister J, Schebeck L (2004) German network on life cycle inventory data. Int J Life Cycle Assess 9(6):360–364
Curran MA, Notten P (2006) Summary of global life cycle inventory data resources. Report prepared for Task Force 1: Database Registry SETAC/UNEP Life Cycle Initiative
de Eicker MO, Hischier R, Hurni H, Zah R (2010) Using non-local databases for the environmental assessment of industrial activities: the case of Latin America. Environ Impact Assess Rev 30:145–157
Ecoinvent Centre (2009) Ecoinvent data v2.1. Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf. 2009. www.ecoinvent.org/database/. Accessed 8 Feb 2012
Ecoinvent Centre (2011) EcoSpold v2 data format. http://www.ecoinvent.org/ecoinvent-v3/ecospold-v2/. Accessed 15 Nov 2011
Finnveden G, Hauschild M, Ekvall T, Guinée J, Heijungs R, Hellweg S, Koehler A, Pennington D, Suh S (2009) Recent developments in life cycle assessment. J Environ Manag 91(1):1–21
Frischknecht R (2006) Notions on the design and use of an ideal regional or global LCA database. Int J Life Cycle Assess 11:40–48
Franklin Associates (2010) Cradle-to-gate life cycle inventory of nine plastic resins and four polyurethane precursors. Report prepared for the plastics division of the Am. Chem. Counc
Guinée JB, Gorrée M, Heijungs R, Huppes G, Kleijn R, de Koning A, van Oers A, Wegener Sleeswijk A, Suh S, Udo de Haes HA, de Bruijn H, van Duin R, Huijbregts MAJ (2002) Handbook on life cycle assessment: operational guide to the ISO standards. Kluwer Acad. Publ, Dordrecht
Heijungs R, Suh S (2002) The computational structure of life cycle assessment. Kluwer Acad. Publ, Dordrecht
Hischier R, Baitz M, Bretz R, Frischknecht R, Jungbluth N, Marheineke T, McKeown P, Oele M, Osset O, Renner I, Skone T, Wessman H, de Beaufort ASH (2001) SETAC-Europe LCA working group ‘data availability and data quality’ guidelines for consistent reporting of exchanges from/to nature within life cycle inventories (lci). Int J Life Cycle Assess 6(4):192–198
Hunt RG, Boguski TK, Weitz K, Sharma A (1998) Case studies examining LCA streamlining techniques. Int J Life Cycle Assess 3(1):36–42
Lave LB, Cobas-Flores E, Hendrickson CT, McMichael FC (1995) Using Input-Output Analysis to Estimate Economy-wide Discharges. Environ Sci Technol 29(9):420A–426A
Lewandowska A, Wawrzynkiewicz Z, Noskowiak A, Foltynowicz Z (2008) Adaptation of ecoinvent database to Polish conditions: the case of wood production in the forest. Int J Life Cycle Assess 13(4):319–327
Makishi Colodel CT (2008) Systematic approach for the transferability of life cycle inventory data between countries. EcoBalance Conference, Tokyo, pp 327–330
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (2010) Building for environmental and economic sustainability (BEES). http://www.nist.gov/el/economics/BEESSoftware.cfm. Accessed 30 Mar 2012
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (2011) us life cycle inventory database.www.nrel.gov/lci. Accessed 15 Oct 2011
Nebel B, Alcorn A, Wittstock B (2008) Life Cycle Assessment: adopting and adapting overseas LCA data and methodologies for building materials in New Zealand. http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/forestry/publications/lca-materials.pdf. Accessed 9 Apr 2012
Rebitzer G, Ekvall T, Frischknecht R, Hunkeler D, Norris G, Rydberg T, Schmidt W-P, Suh S, Weidema B, Penington DW (2004) Life cycle assessment: goal and scope definition, inventory analysis and applications (Part 1). Environ Int 30(5):701–721
Roches A, Nemecek T, Gaillard G, Plassmann K, Sim S, King H, Milà i Canals L (2010) MEXALCA: a modular method for the extrapolation of crop LCA. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15(8):842–854
Singhofen A, Hemming CR, Weidema BP, Grlsel L, Bretz R, De Smet B, Russell D (1996) Life cycle inventory data: development of a common format. Int J Life Cycle Assess 1(3):171–178
Steinberger JK, Friot D, Jolliet O, Erkman S (2009) A spatially explicit life cycle inventory of the global textile chain. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(5):443–455
Suh S, Huppes H (2002) Missing inventory estimation tool using extended input–output analysis. Int J Life Cycle Assess 7(3):134–140
Suh S, Lenzen M, Treloar G, Hondo H, Horvath A, Huppes G, Jolliet O, Klann U, Krewitt W, Moriguchi Y, Munksgaard J, Norris G (2004) System boundary selection for life cycle inventories using hybrid approaches. Environ Sci Technol 38(3):657–664
Suh S, Lippiatt BC (2012) Framework for hybrid life cycle inventory databases: a case study on the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) database. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17(5):604–612
Suh S, Yang Y, Kim J, Bae J, Yee S (2012) Sustainable Biofuel Development Pathways: final report to the USDA, forthcoming
Udo de Haes HA, Jolliet O, Norris G, Saur K (2002) UNEP/SETAC life cycle initiative: background, aims and scope. Int J Life Cycle Assess 7(4):192–195
UNEP (2011) Global guidance principles for life cycle assessment databases: a basis for greener processes and products. UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, United Nations Environmental Programme, Paris
UNEP/SETAC (2011) Global guidance principles for life cycle assessment databases. France, United Nations Environment Programme, Paris
USDA National Agricultural Library (2012) LCA Digital Commons. www.lcacommons.gov. Accessed 2 Feb 2012
Weidema BP, Bauer C, Hischier R, Mutel C, Nemecek T, Vadenbo CO, Wernet G (2012) Overview and methodology: Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. Ecoinvent Report 1(v3). St. Gallen: The ecoinvent centre
Yang Y, Bae J, Kim J, Suh S (2012) Replacing gasoline with corn ethanol results in significant environmental problem-shifting. Environ Sci Technol 46(7):3671–3678
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Rainer Zah
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Suh, S., Leighton, M., Tomar, S. et al. Interoperability between ecoinvent ver. 3 and US LCI database: a case study. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21, 1290–1298 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0592-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0592-2