Importing ecoinvent and Other Databases

High-quality Life Cycle Inventory data is the foundation of reliable LCA results. While you can create processes from scratch, professional assessments typically rely on established databases that provide consistent, peer-reviewed data for thousands of materials, energy sources, and industrial processes.

Understanding LCI Database Options

Several databases are available for use with openLCA, each with different strengths:

Getting Free Databases

US Life Cycle Inventory (USLCI)

The USLCI database from NREL provides free, US-specific data:

1. Visit https://www.lcacommons.gov/lca-collaboration/
2. Create a free account
3. Navigate to Repositories → USLCI
4. Click Download and select JSON-LD format
5. Save the file to your computer

ELCD (European Life Cycle Database)

For European reference data:

1. Visit https://nexus.openlca.org
2. Register for a free account
3. Navigate to Databases → ELCD (legacy) or EF database (current)
4. Download the openLCA-formatted version

openLCA Nexus Free Resources

GreenDelta provides additional free resources at nexus.openlca.org:

• LCIA method packages
• Basic reference data
• Sample databases for learning
• Flow mapping files

Obtaining ecoinvent

ecoinvent is the most comprehensive LCI database globally, but requires a paid license. Here's how to access it:

License Options

1. Academic license: Discounted for educational institutions
2. Single-user license: For individual consultants
3. Multi-user license: For organizations
4. LCA tool bundle: Included with some commercial software

Purchase and Download

1. Visit https://ecoinvent.org/
2. Create an account
3. Purchase or activate your license
4. Navigate to ecoQuery (the download portal)
5. Select your database version (e.g., ecoinvent 3.10)
6. Choose the system model:
   • Cut-off by classification: Recycled content approach (most common)
   • Allocation at the point of substitution (APOS): Recyclability substitution approach
   • Consequential: For decision-support studies
7. Download in openLCA format (JSON-LD or Zolca)

Importing Databases into openLCA

Once you have your database files, import them into openLCA:

Method 1: Direct Database Restore (Fastest)

For .zolca files (openLCA's native format):

1. In openLCA, go to File → Restore database
2. Navigate to your .zolca file
3. Select a name for the restored database
4. Click OK and wait for import (may take 15-30 minutes for large databases)

Method 2: Import into Existing Database

For JSON-LD or other formats:

1. Open or create your target database
2. Right-click the database in the Navigation panel
3. Select Import → From file
4. Choose the appropriate format:
   • JSON-LD for most modern exports
   • EcoSpold 2 for ecoinvent native format
   • ILCD for EU-formatted data
5. Select your downloaded file
6. Configure import options (usually defaults are fine)
7. Click Finish and wait for completion

Method 3: Remote Import

For databases hosted on collaboration servers:

1. Connect to the server (Window → Preferences → Collaboration)
2. Right-click in Navigation panel
3. Select Import → From repository
4. Browse available databases
5. Select and import

Understanding System Models

ecoinvent offers different "system models" that handle allocation and recycling differently:

Cut-off by Classification (Allocation, Cut-off)

• Recycled materials enter the system "burden-free" at the input side
• Primary production bears full environmental burden
• No credits given for recyclable materials leaving the system
• Most common approach for product LCAs
• Simpler to understand and explain

Allocation at the Point of Substitution (APOS)

• Uses average supply mix including recycled content (like cut-off)
• Applies substitution at the output side: recyclable materials leaving the system receive credits for avoiding primary production
• Allocation applied to multi-output processes
• More complex than cut-off due to substitution credits
• Appropriate when end-of-life recyclability should influence results

Consequential

• Models market effects and substitution
• Includes marginal suppliers, not average
• Used for policy analysis and decision-support
• Requires understanding of market mechanisms

Navigating an Imported Database

After import, explore your database structure:

Flows

Flows are the materials and energy that move between processes:

• Product flows: Goods and services (e.g., "steel, hot rolled")
• Elementary flows: Exchanges with the environment (e.g., "CO₂ to air")
• Waste flows: Materials for treatment (e.g., "municipal solid waste")

Processes

Processes transform inputs into outputs:

• Unit processes: Single operations with disaggregated data
• System processes: Aggregated results for a full production chain

Browse processes by category (e.g., Materials → Metals → Steel) to find what you need.

Product Systems

Pre-built product systems calculate impacts for complete supply chains. These are ready-to-use models for common products.

LCIA Methods

Impact assessment methods translate inventory flows to impacts. After importing, verify you have the methods you need:

• ReCiPe 2016
• CML-IA baseline
• TRACI 2.1
• Environmental Footprint (EF) 3.0

Checking Import Quality

After importing, verify everything worked:

Basic Checks

1. Expand the Processes folder—you should see thousands of entries for comprehensive databases
2. Open a few processes and verify they have inputs/outputs
3. Check Elementary flows for completeness

Test Calculation

1. Create a simple product system from any process
2. Run a quick calculation
3. Verify you get results (not zeros or errors)

If you encounter issues:

• Check the import log for errors
• Verify the source file isn't corrupted
• Ensure you have enough disk space

Managing Multiple Databases

For complex projects, you might work with multiple databases:

Best Practices

1. Keep databases separate: Don't merge ecoinvent with other data sources
2. Use linking: Reference flows from one database in another using linking files
3. Document sources: Track which database provides which data
4. Version control: Note database versions in your study documentation

Database Linking

When your foreground model needs background data from another database:

1. Create your foreground database with your specific processes
2. Import only the processes you need from background databases
3. Or use provider linking to connect databases

Key Takeaways

1. LCI databases provide the foundation for credible LCA studies
2. Start with free databases (USLCI, ELCD) to learn, then add paid databases as needed
3. ecoinvent is the most comprehensive option but requires a license
4. Understand system models before importing—they're not interchangeable
5. Verify imports by testing calculations before building complex models

What's Next?

With databases imported, you're ready to build your first LCA model. The next lesson walks through creating a product system from scratch and understanding how openLCA structures calculations.

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Resources

• ecoinvent Documentation
• USLCI Documentation
• openLCA Database Guide
• System Model Selection Guide