The ecoinvent database is updated yearly with expanded sectorial and geographical coverage.
Nov 8th, 2023
The ecoinvent database started off in the late 1990s as a project aiming to develop a consistent, transparent database for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data to be used in life cycle–based assessments. During the past 20 years, the project has developed into the ecoinvent association, the publisher of the ecoinvent database and a worldwide, trusted partner in the management of data for environmental assessments.
In 2003 the ecoinvent project resulted in the release of the first version of the ecoinvent database. After this launch, the project partners continued their cooperation under the ecoinvent Centre, the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories. Following the launch of ecoinvent version 1, the work on a complete revision, update and extension of the database began, which resulted in the release of ecoinvent version 2 in 2007.
Version 3 of the ecoinvent database was released in 2013. Since then, the database is updated yearly. New and updated data are released, expanding the coverage of the database sectorially and geographically. Each version builds on all previous versions.
Version 3 Commitments
Improved Supply Chain Representation
As with every release, the existing supply chains in the database were thoroughly reviewed in order to reflect the current reality of global and regional product flows. As a result, links between demanding and supplying activities have been updated, and new, regional market datasets have been introduced.”
Properties
All products and elementary exchanges with mass in ecoinvent version 3 come with at least six properties; dry mass, wet mass, water in wet mass, water content, carbon content fossil and non fossil. Additionally, every single product in the database has a price that can be used among other things for economic allocation.”
System Models
The ecoinvent database is the only major LCI database supporting three system models: Allocation cut-off by classification, Allocation at the Point of Substitution, and Consequential. In addition, for all version 3 users preferring to have access to unlinked unit processes, ecoinvent offers an undefined version on its website.