ecoinvent is a life cycle inventory database that provides consistent and transparent data for Life Cycle Assessment studies. It is one of the most widely used and internationally recognised LCA databases, with detailed information on thousands of products, processes, and services across multiple sectors of the global economy.
The ecoinvent database is developed and maintained by the ecoinvent Association, a Swiss non-profit organisation. It contains activity datasets that document the inputs and outputs of industrial and agricultural processes, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, energy supply, waste treatment, and end-of-life processes. Each dataset includes elementary flows (emissions to air, water, and soil, as well as resource extractions) and intermediate product flows that link processes within product systems.
The database is structured around unit process datasets that can be linked to form complete product systems. It provides different system models, including cut-off, allocation at the point of substitution (APOS), and consequential, each applying different approaches to handling by-products and wastes. This flexibility allows practitioners to conduct LCA studies aligned with different modelling philosophies and research questions.
ecoinvent follows the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards and is updated regularly to reflect technological developments, improved data quality, and expanded geographical and sectoral coverage. The database has become a de facto standard in many industries and is integrated into most major LCA software tools.
As Chief Operating Officer, Iris leads our organisational development and oversees day-to-day operations. Before joining 2-0, she worked in the biotechnology sector. As an LCA consultant, Iris has devoted her expertise primarily to the domains of sustainable agriculture and food production. She is dedicated to teaching LCA and is responsible for our educational efforts. Iris holds an M.Sc. in Biology – Biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen.
Contact for: LCA Training
Glossary terms are clearer once you have seen them applied. Our guide to what LCA is and how it works walks through the complete methodology: goal and scope, inventory modelling, impact assessment, and interpretation.
If you are working on an LCA study and want it done properly, see how we approach life cycle assessment.
