Comparing Data Management in LCI Databases

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely accepted method for analysing the environmental aspects of goods and services. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets document the various involved material and energy flows, forming the basis of every LCA study. Today, a plurality of databases providing LCI data exists. Data delivered by these databases has to be sound as well as suitable for the specific application. Therefore, LCA practitioners request highquality, regularly updated and verified data with maximum information content and maximum transparency of backgrounds and assumptions. These needs have to be satisfied by the database vendors with the help of adequate data management. Therefore, this paper derives aspects of data management in the LCI context, enabling the comparison of specific database systems. The developed framework is verified by applying it to compare the two databases ecoinvent and ProBas.